West Indies wary of Bangladesh hitting back in WTC27 series
Head coach Daren Sammy believes Bangladesh will be eager to draw the series to help their cause in the ICC World Test Championship.
Despite taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series against Bangladesh, which is a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025/27, West Indies will be keen on not letting their feet off the throttle.
Speaking in the lead-up to the second Test starting November 5, head coach Daren Sammy conceded that the hosts will be coming all guns blazing in the series decider.
"One thing I know about Phil (Simmons) is that he will not make it easy," Sammy said. "He wants to win as well. They have their own goals in the WTC as well.
“But I am pretty sure, from what I see from the guys - the hunger, the determination, the willingness to work and the attention to detail - that whatever we face in Sylhet, we'll be ready to finish this Test cycle with an away win in Bangladesh, and they are not easy (to beat) at home.
"Before we started this [series], they were fourth on the table in the World Test Championship after winning a Test against Australia, so we are very aware of what's at stake.
“Within the group, we are eager to achieve our goals set back in Barbados when the WTC cycle started.”
The West Indies are currently eighth in the WTC Standings, with a Points Percentage (PCT) of 26.92. The visitors mounted their third win in the ongoing cycle in what was their 13th fixture in it.
While the aspirations of making a cut for next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final may have died down, Sammy believes West Indies are on track to improve as a Test team.
"If you look at how we've been progressing as a Test team, I think the team is now settling. The roles that we have challenged each of the players to play, they seem to be settling into that role.
"Also, just the way we bowled, I think our spinners outbowled their spinners and our batsmen responded to playing spin better than theirs.”
The Windies head coach also sang praises of captain Roston Chase, who was appointed to the role just ahead of the cycle last year.
"I must say Roston Chase's leadership- we spoke about that when he scored that first 100 as a Test captain. The leadership he brings, in spite of everything that was happening in that first year of the Test Championship, he never lost his voice," Sammy said.
West Indies will face off against Bangladesh in their final match in the ongoing WTC cycle starting November 5 in Sylhet.