West Indies crushed Bangladesh by 201 runs in the first Test in Antigua, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Despite facing a brief challenge from Taskin Ahmed’s fiery bowling in the second innings, the Caribbean side showcased their superiority across all departments to secure a convincing victory.

As the action shifts to Jamaica for the second Test on November 30, West Indies head coach Andre Cole is eager to replicate the Antigua success. Cole emphasized the importance of adapting to conditions in Jamaica while expressing optimism about the team’s form and strategies.

Speaking after the match, Andre Coley revealed his expectations for the second Test in Jamaica, where the conditions are likely to be different.
“(Jamaica has a) smaller ground. I won’t comment too much on the pitch as I haven’t seen it yet, but we’ll look to maximize home advantage. Decisions regarding any changes will be made once we arrive. Hopefully, we’ll find similar conditions as in Antigua,” Coley said.

On the pacers, Coley added, “You don’t often see four pacers in a lineup. We typically play a spinner, but here the pacers adapted to long spells. Hopefully, they’ll perform even better in Jamaica.”

Andre Coley acknowledged the contributions of key players, particularly Justin Greaves, who scored a century in Antigua.

“It was a superb innings. He hadn’t played a Test for almost 10 months but showed fantastic form. In 50-over cricket, he’s been excellent. He works hard and has great skills—be it with the bat, swing bowling, or slip catching. He’s a complete package. He plays late and makes solid decisions, which is crucial. While it may not always work, having conviction in one’s decisions is essential,” Coley remarked.

Coley also expressed his confidence in Alik Athanaze, stating, “We’re working consistently with him. We’re considering him at No. 4. He’s a free-scoring player and is showing good form. Performances like these help build confidence, and we’re backing him to continue his progress.”

Despite the dominant win, West Indies missed several catching opportunities, an area Coley highlighted for improvement.

“We emphasize catching, but sometimes things don’t go your way. Movement on the field can be tricky. We’re working on building confidence and refining skills in training to improve by 1-2%. Everyone in the squad has a role, and we’re discussing ways to get better in this department. We’re confident we’ll see better results in Jamaica,” Coley shared.

Captain Brathwaite’s Form and Leadership
Addressing Kraigg Brathwaite’s current form, Coley mentioned, “I know he wants to perform better and is concerned about his form. He’s working hard and analyzing his game with data and video reviews. He’s not far from his best, and we’re supporting him to regain confidence.”

The second and final Test of the series begins on November 30 in Jamaica. A win for the hosts would secure a clean sweep against Bangladesh, adding to their growing momentum in red-ball cricket.