Pakistan vs West Indies, 3rd Test, Preview: Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan’s farewell at stake with history on line

A farewell for Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan along with the history being on the line – this is what the third Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Roseau is all about.

A farewell for Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan along with the history being on the line – this is what the third Test between Pakistan and West Indies at Roseau is all about. After witnessing the batting collapse yet again at Bridgetown, Barbados, a serious question that arises is if Pakistan will give Misbah and Younis a perfect farewell or will Jason Holder and his men spoil the party? With the series tied at 1-1, will Pakistan change history and win the first ever Test series in West Indies since 1957-58? Or will the Caribbean side keep the record clean and defy the visitors from scripting a new story? FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs West Indies 2017, 3rd Test at  Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica

The series started on a very positive note for Pakistan. Despite their openers crumbling in both innings, they won the first Test by a satisfying 7-wicket to go one up in the three-game series. Momentum was riding by their side and all the odds were in their favour. But West Indies, who are known to bounce back hard when pushed to a corner, produced an inspiring performance. Pakistan who had managed to win the series opener at Sabina Park, Jamaica, were skittled out for mere 81 while chasing 188.

There have been some great performances with the bat and ball from both the sides. For Pakistan, the good thing is the fact that their top 7 batsmen, excluding Asad Shafiq, have at least a half-century against their name. Azhar Ali (104) is the only batsman from the visiting team to get to a hundred but this also includes 99* and 99 from Misbah.

As for their bowlers, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Abbas have played their roles perfectly giving their team the desired starts in the four innings. But Yasir Shah – the second innings – giant has been Pakistan captain’s go-to man and has 17 wickets against his name. Shadab Khan, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2017 sensation, could not emulate his form as compared in the limited-overs series played prior to the Tests. Shadab played in the second Test instead of Wahab Riaz and only managed to get one wicket.

As for West Indies, top-order batting has been consistently inconsistent. There were glimpses of good batting from Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell and even Shimron Hetmyer and Vishaul Singh. But playing in a Test match, glimpses can never be enough.

The only respite for West Indies has been their middle and lower-middle order. Roston Chase – the man in crisis for West Indies – leads the chart of scoring runs with 233 runs in four innings, which includes a century (131) at Barbados. The likes of Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope and Holder also proved themselves, scoring valuable runs down the order with a fifty each against their name.

Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph, Holder and Devendra Bishoo have been very stringent with their bowling throughout the series, with Gabriel earning the Man of the Match award for his superb five-for in the second Test.

There is very little to separate these two teams in the series decider. West Indies will be hoping to carry on the momentum whereas Pakistan will be hoping to end careers of the two of the greatest players they had a winning note.

Number’s game:

• West Indies have played four Tests at this ground. Out of these four games, they have won and drawn one while lost the other two.
• This is the first time Pakistan and West Indies will play a Test at this ground.
• This is Pakistan’s eighth tour to West Indies and they are yet to win a Test series in the Caribbean. In the previous seven, West Indies have won four times drawing the remaining three.

Teams:

West Indies: Jason Holder (c), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich (wk), Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Vishaul Singh.

Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Ahmed Shahzad, Azhar Ali, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmad (wk), Usman Salahuddin, Yasir Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas.