Expressing his excitement that Test cricket has returned to Jamaica, West Indies Captain Kraigg Brathwaite says ending the year with a series win is crucial as they take on Bangladesh in the second Test at Sabina Park today, starting at 10:00 am.

The Windies are looking to close out the series after taking a 1-0 lead, following a 201-run win in the first Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Tuesday.

It’s been just over three years since the island last hosted a Test match, where the Windies lost to Pakistan.

It was the first time Brathwaite captained the team on Jamaican soil and he’s eager to do so again over the next five days.

“[It’s] very special,” he said. “Jamaica is a place that I love and personally as a West Indies group, we love to play here. [Against Pakistan in 2021], the bowlers really enjoyed bowling, the ball did a bit of seaming for the majority of the game which is good. I have good memories and good experiences that I can share with the batsmen and with the bowlers as well, with Kemar Roach being there, so we’re really looking forward to playing the last test here.”

The Windies have not won a Test series this year with a 3-0 loss away to England in July, a 1-0 defeat to South Africa in August and a 1-1 draw with Australia in January.

However, Brathwaite says finishing 2024 on a high will give them momentum heading into the new year.

“You can’t ever take any Test match or series for granted so it’s very important we end the year strong,” he said. “Obviously we have a lot of Test cricket to play as well so it’s very crucial for us. The first test is gone, it’s history; we have to start working back over as a batting and bowling unit but we’re looking forward to it.”

Since the team’s arrival on Wednesday, persistent rainfall has affected the team’s preparations, forcing a cancellation of training on Thursday. Meanwhile, only a few players trained on Friday.

Braithwaite, though, is hoping they can use the conditions to their advantage.

“The covering of the grass on the surface is good to see,” he said. “At the end of the day, that’s just the surface. We got to go out there and bowl well, take the catches and bat well and put runs on the board, so we’re looking forward to doing that.

“I have full confidence in the fast bowlers we have. I believe all these guys have different attributes and it’s really exciting what the future holds for this bowling group.”

Brathwaite, the opening batsman has often been one of the team’s most reliable batsmen but has struggled this year with a little under 300 runs across 16 innings at an average of 18.

However, he says he plans to make an impact in the match after registering scores of 4 and 23 in the first Test.

“My role is to make it easier for the guys to come and set that foundation and I’ll be aiming to do to that,” he said. “That’s always the aim, I just have to stay tough and lead this batting group.”

The Windies are expected to name an unchanged 11 who won the first Test, though Brathwaite says spinner Jomel Warrican could be a last-minute addition.

Windies Squad

Kraigg Brathwaite (captain)

Joshua Da Silva (vice-captain)

Alick Athanaze

Keacy Carty

Justin Greaves

Kavem Hodge

Tevin Imlach

Alzarri Joseph

Shamar Joseph

Mikyle Louis

Anderson Phillip

Kemar Roach

Jayden Seales

Kevin Sinclair

Jomel Warrican

BRATHWAITE…Jamaica is a place that I love and personally as a West Indies group, we love to play here (CWI Media)