What

The first Test of the three-match series between West Indies and India

When

June 20, 2011. The game begins at 8:30 pm, IST.

Where

Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. India have registered only one victory at this venue with a 49-run win against the hosts in 2006 then giving India its first series win in the Caribbean in 35 years.

The Teams:

India are no doubt bolstered by the return of their senior players MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman to the side. And barring a last minute injury, all three of them should make it to the playing eleven which would really strengthen India’s batting. However, in the absence of regular openers, Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, the pressure will be on Tamil Nadu opening pair Abhinav Mukund and Murali Vijay to repeat their domestic success for India. With India generally playing a wicketkeeper-batsman at number seven followed by four specialist bowlers, it won’t be surprising if Suresh Raina comes into bat at number five with Virat Kohli making his Test debut at number six.

As far as the bowling is concerned, it will once again come down to the kind of wicket that is on offer before the start of the game. If the wicket looks to have pace and bounce in it, then India would go in with three pacers and the solitary spinner in the form of Harbhajan Singh. On the other hand, if the track looks to assist spinners then India might be keen to play Amit Mishra, who did so well in the ODI series, alongside Harbhajan in place of one of the pacers.

West Indies, too, are strengthened by the availability of Shivnarine Chanderpaul in the playing eleven. And should Chanderpaul, Adrian Barath, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels come good with the bat, the hosts will be difficult to beat. With Devendra Bishoo named as the the solitary spinner in the side, the West Indies will have to choose two among Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul and Kemar Roach to support captain Darren Sammy on the fast bowling front.

Venue Stats:

West Indies – played 44, won -22, lost – 9, Tied – 0, Draw – 13 – win percentage – 50.00

India – played 10, won - 1, lost – 6, Tied – 0, Draw – 3 – win percentage – 10.00

Highest total in an innings: England 849 in 258.2 overs v West Indies - April 3, 1930

Lowest total in an innings: West Indies 47 in 25.3 overs v England – March 11, 2004

Best Individual score in an innings:Garfield Sobers (West Indies) – 365* v Pakistan- February 26, 1958

Best bowling figures in an innings:Steve Harmison (England) 12.3-8-12-7 v West Indies – March 11, 2004

Average first innings score at Sabina Park: Overall - 320, since 2000 – 308

Average second innings score at Sabina Park:Overall - 356, since 2000 – 299

Result summary:

Head-to-head:

Last meeting:

June 30, 2006 to July 2, 2006 - Venue – Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica

Brief scores: India - 200 & 171 beat West Indies – 103 & 219 by 49 runs

Form guide (most recent listed first):

India: Drawn, Won, Lost, Won, Drawn (2 wins, 1 loss)

West Indies: Lost, Won, Drawn, Drawn, Drawn (1 win, 1 loss)

The Squads:

India: MS Dhoni (c & wk), VVS Laxman (vc), Subramaniam Badrinath, Rahul Dravid, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Praveen Kumar, Amit Mishra, Abhimanyu Mithun, Abhinav Mukund, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ishant Sharma and Murali Vijay.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (c), Brendan Nash, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh (wk), Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons.

All stats are as onas on July 18, 2011