West Indies will face another tough test in the second ODI against Bangladesh at Dominica, after they were soundly beaten by Bangladesh in the first game on Sunday. First Mohammad Ashraful and Shakib-al-Hasan half-centuries had ensured that the tourists got to a reasonable total, and then with a batting line-up so inexperienced against the slow bowlers, bowled them out without getting even close to the target. Abdur Razzaq had been the pick of the bowlers, having scalped a four-wicket haul in the game, after being made to open the bowling.

West Indies will need to think of different strategies to get the better of their opposition, and one of them could just be to get a pitch which has more than its share of a tinge of grass. The problem the batsmen are currently facing is that they haven't played much at the senior level, and battling against a barrage of spin - there were four of them in the previous game - is a task seeped in difficulty.

The hosts would definitely be happy with the return of at least one of their senior men, Devon Smith, and his fighting half century, but not many supported his cause. One almost senses that Dave Bernard could just make it higher up the order for the next game, and try and get going with the bat. Captain Floyd Reifer hasn't had much to do with the bat for some time and will look to get back to form as well.

For Bangladesh, it all seems to be going their way, ever since Mashrafe Mortaza was injured and replaced by Shakib-al-Hasan as the skipper of the side. Since then, both, the bowling and the batting has clicked as a unit and hence the successive wins. Ashraful's return to form couldn't have come at a better moment, but it would do him well to continue with the same, as we have all seen how he has managed to throw it away after one good innings or so. Similarly, Shakib continues to impress with his all-round show, as he smashed another half century after having struggled through most part of the initial period.

Razzaq, Shakib, Mahmudullah and the other spinners in the side will look to continue texploiting the slowish tracks in the Caribbean and make life miserable for the West Indies. Opening with the spinners was one of the best moves that the Bangladeshi captain could have thought of and I will be very surprised if the same does not repeat itself for the second game as well!

Tag :- Abdur Razzaq   Bangladesh   Dave Bernard   Devon Smith   Floyd Reifer   Mohammad Ashraful   West Indies