Don't underestimate Windies, Stuart Law warns England
Law, who coached the Caribbean side for around two years before deciding to move to England this year for a job with Middlesex, said a strong core group and a desire to prove their detractors wrong made the home side one to reckon with.
The Windies are No.8 on the MRF Tyres ICC Test Team Rankings, while England are No.3, but said Law, "Don't underestimate the home team.
Darren Bravo and Alzarri Joseph return; uncapped John Campbell and Shamarh Brooks earn maiden call-ups to the Windies squad for the first Test against England in Barbados.
— ICC (@ICC) January 15, 2019
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"The best thing about this series is England are going in as red-hot favourites. Going in as an underdog, [the Windies] have got nothing to lose. The Caribbean crowd will tell the Caribbean team they are not supposed to win. They (the team) like proving people wrong as well.
"It should be reasonably comfortable for England on paper, but out on the ground, there are a few guys there with a point to prove and opportunities to cement a place for a long time in the West Indies set-up, so I wouldn't discount them."
Law was in charge when the teams last met in 2017 in England. The visitors lost the series, but memorably registered their first Test win in England for 17 years when they chased down 322 with five wickets to spare in the second Test in Headingley. Shai Hope made twin centuries to lead the charge.
This victory was hugely important for both fans and the team, in bolstering their confidence, the former coach said.
"There's a core group of senior players who have been there for a while now and proved they can do it. A lot of that group played in that Test match at Headingley, so if England aren't on their game, West Indies have got the team to make an upset.
Stuart Broad is aiming to take his third Test hat-trick in the upcoming #WIvENG series after picking up one in the practice game. 👀
— ICC (@ICC) January 17, 2019
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"The euphoria of a first Test win in England for 17 years was something that's still celebrated in the Caribbean," he added. "Some of the kids who stuck their hand up in that match, they really gained a lot.
"Shai Hope, Kraigg Brathwaite, Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel – [the bowlers] bowled their hearts out. Shannon Gabriel bowled fast every time he bowled a ball. The two batters, they just had a dream Test match.
"That's the thing – it comes down to self-belief. If they've got self-belief they can achieve anything they want, those guys."