DHAKA, Bangladesh- The West Indies began their third World Test Championship campaign against Australia in Bridgetown, Barbados, just under 500 days ago. Over the next two weeks in Bangladesh, the Men in Maroon will bring the cycle’s match commitments to a close, with the chance to finish 2026 on a high.
The West Indies can climb to sixth in the ICC test rankings with a two nil series win, as well as potentially finishing sixth in the World Test Championship depending on other results for the remainder of the cycle.
The regional side has enjoyed an encouraging 2026 in the longest format, remaining unbeaten in Test series following their success against Sri Lanka and a 1-1 draw with Pakistan in Trinidad. The results have offered signs of renewed consistency for a side seeking to re-establish itself among Test cricket’s competitive forces.
A series triumph in the subcontinent would carry added historical significance. It would mark the first calendar year since 1994 in which the West Indies have finished without losing a Test series, while extending their unbeaten run to three consecutive series for the first time since the 2012–13 period.
Head coach Daren Sammy sees the positives and the changes within the unit.
“The expectations are always there,” Sammy said. “It’s been a long time since we have gone through a year without losing a series, and we have a chance to do that and close out World Test Championship strong.”
“The message to the guys: ‘Give it all!’. Ten possible days of Test cricket left in this cycle for us and just go out there and give it your all. Whatever motivates you, use that to go out and get performances. We have prepared really well”, Sammy added.
The West Indies’ batting has shown encouraging signs of transformation over the current Test cycle, with a marked improvement in run production, individual performances and opening partnerships compared with the previous campaign.
The Caribbean side has already registered nine Test centuries in the current cycle, a significant increase from the two recorded between 2023 and 2025. Five of those centuries came in response to opposition totals, highlighting the team’s growing ability to mount a challenge after being put under pressure.
The improvement is also reflected in the overall output of the batting unit, with a four-percentage-point increase across both innings. The West Indies are averaging 30 runs per wicket in the first innings, up from 23.5 in the previous cycle, while the overall batting percentage has risen to 25.8 from 21 per cent.
Opening partnerships have provided another encouraging indicator of progress. The West Indies have recorded two century stands for the first wicket in the current cycle, having failed to register any in the previous campaign. With two matches remaining, their opening partnership average stands at 32.8, a considerable improvement on the 19.8 recorded during the previous period.
At the heart of the resurgence have been Justin Greaves and Shai Hope, who have emerged as two of the team’s most dependable run-scorers over the two-year period. Greaves has accumulated 792 runs at an average of 40.78, while Hope has scored 775 at 37.71. Hope’s tally includes three centuries and two half-centuries, while Greaves has produced two match-saving hundreds, highlighted by a memorable double century in Christchurch, New Zealand.
The opening pair of John Campbell and Brandon King have also made significant contributions, combining for 1,044 runs across the cycle. Their performances, alongside the improved frequency of substantial opening stands, point to a more productive platform at the top of the order.
Captain Roston Chase and Amir Jangoo have further underlined the batting unit’s growing depth, both producing match-winning centuries against Sri Lanka in Antigua. Their contributions have reinforced the value of runs from up and down the order, rather than relying solely on a handful of established performers.
Skipper Roston Chase is pleased with the change in fortunes with the bat for the Caribbean men.
“I think as a batting unit, we’ve been able to put up some big first innings scores, over 300 runs in the first innings,” he said. “I think that adds a lot of pressure to the other team.” “I just think if we can consistently do it not only in the first innings but in the second innings as well, if we can get a decent total in the second innings with the bowling line-up that we have, I think we’ll be challenging teams and winning more games”, Chase added.
With the ball, Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph have been the main architects with a combined 70 wickets.
Joseph has bagged his 35 wickets at an average of 22.11 while Seales scalps have been registered at an average of 33.51.
Greaves has also snared 25 wickets alongside Kemar Roach 20 who are leading the potency line with the ball in hand.
With ranking gains and a notable piece of history within reach, the series represents an opportunity for the Caribbean side to turn an encouraging year into a landmark one.
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