.jpeg?ssl=1 "Roston Chase Credits Spin‑Ready Prep as West Indies Secure Historic Test Series Win in Bangladesh")
West Indies captain Roston Chase said his side’s enhanced ability to tackle spin bowling was the key to their 1‑0 Test series win against Bangladesh. He noted that Bangladesh’s choice of spin‑friendly pitches ultimately backfired. The series was sealed after the second Test in Sylhet ended in a draw on Monday, following a commanding eight‑wicket triumph in Dhaka the previous week.
Across the two matches, West Indies’ batting averaged 47.81 runs per wicket against Bangladeshi spin, losing only 16 wickets. Conversely, the home spinners took 24 wickets at an average of 26.79. This superior spin performance proved decisive in securing the series.
The win marked West Indies’ first back‑to‑back Test series victories in Bangladesh since 2021 and ensured they finished the calendar year without a Test series defeat for the first time since 1994.
“When we usually come to Bangladesh, the spinners eat us for dinner most of the time,” Chase told Cricinfo.
“We have improved significantly in playing spin, thanks to the Chennai camp where we faced plenty of spin and worked on our weaknesses. The preparation paid off and shows that good planning yields results.”
“We approached the series with an open mind, aware that Bangladesh have been relying more on pace in recent wins. Whether the pitches favoured seam or spin, we were prepared to utilise our respective strengths. Their decision to pitch spinning surfaces ultimately hurt them, and we are delighted with the outcome.”
The West Indies captain also expressed contentment with his team’s performance, noting how challenging it is to win a Test series in Bangladesh. Despite aiming to win both matches, he admitted that the conditions in Sylhet made it hard to force a result.
“I am very pleased. Bangladesh is notoriously difficult to play in, so securing a win on their home soil is always satisfying. We aimed for victories in both matches, but it didn’t happen. The second game was slower, with interruptions due to bad light, making it tougher to win, though we performed well overall. Kudos to the team for claiming the series.”
“Our first year in the cycle was difficult, but we set a goal to dominate the second year by taking on Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh—teams nearer to us in skill and ranking. We aimed to win all three series; securing two of them felt like a successful campaign.”
“We have not lost a series this year—a feat unseen for many years. It demonstrates that careful planning and hard work can achieve anything. As a unit and as a team, we feel we are moving in the right direction,” Chase added.
West Indies’ spin attack was instrumental in the series victory, spearheaded by left‑arm spinner Jomel Warrican. He claimed 16 wickets in the two Tests, extending his overall Test haul to 100. Warrican became only the second Caribbean left‑arm spinner to reach the century mark.
In Asia, his tally of 76 Test wickets now sits just one shy of the West Indies record of 77 held by former paceman Courtney Walsh.
“Warrican bowled well in both matches, controlling his economy and consistently applying pressure on the batsmen,” Chase said. He highlighted the bowler’s ability to place the ball in front of the batsmen, spin and straighten, calling it the hallmark of his performance and crediting him with securing the series.
Chase also acknowledged that West Indies had been in a solid position to win the second Test, yet praised Towhid Hridoy for a spectacular innings that kept Bangladesh in the contest. Hridoy remained unbeaten on 242, forging crucial partnerships with the final two batters to secure a draw for the hosts.
“Our aim was to win both matches and climb to sixth in the Test rankings. We were in a strong position to secure a victory, but Towhid Hridoy’s outstanding innings reminded us of Test cricket’s unpredictability. Impressive performances like his can overturn expectations.”