The list would be inexhaustible if one were to list how Test cricket stands superior to other formats. But I have neither the expertise nor the need to list all of these here. One of them, however, which was on display recently and does align with the point being made, is that the format has no regard whatsoever for what kind of team plays it.
Take West Indies and Pakistan currently, for instance. Two of the bottom-ranked teams, with nothing special in their ranks throughout the cycle, but they still managed to concoct an enthralling game in the first Test, which did plenty for an exciting build-up for the second.
No one is sure what the results would be, but what is guaranteed is that the match would bring plenty of interesting moments on its own. A win would of course be the most desired by both sides, marginally more for Pakistan, who last won an away Test game in 2023. They have lost four games on the trot this cycle, including a 2-0 thrashing by Bangladesh, the memory of which is unlikely to subside anytime soon.
For West Indies, winning the second Test would give them a 2-0 victory over Pakistan, which would be the first time they have done so against Pakistan since 2000.
Team overview
Pakistan
Pakistan definitely had more questions to answer after the first Test than West Indies. Many of them sprouted the moment they lost the game, and some ran headfirst into them with injuries. Of these, the most pressing is who will come in for the injured Shan Masood.
They already lost Abdullah Fazal before the series began, and losing another top-order batter would have cramped Babar Azam for options. The visitors did call up Abdullah Shafique and Saud Shakeel and while the latter is not very likely to come in at the top of the batting order, Shafique is not exactly a bad option, that is, if he has found his groove back.
If selected, Shafique will play a Test match for the first time since October 2025. His exclusion from the team came as a result of his dwindling form. Since the start of 2024, in 16 innings, Shafique has only got past single-figure scores five times, bringing his average down to almost 18.
And that is not the only quandary facing Pakistan. They batted Aamer Jamal at No. 7 in the first game, which cut their batting short significantly. If Saud Shakeel can be slotted in, provided he too has overcome his form issues, Pakistan could find some relief there.
Lastly, the bowling attack. Pakistan are not likely to go as light on spin as they did in the first Test. This could see Sajid Khan coming in, probably at Ali Usman’s expense.
West Indies
West Indies, on the other hand, might not have such multi-faceted questions dogging them, but theirs are definitely more deep-rooted. Their top order, for instance, failed to provide the sort of protection the batting order needed. During this WTC cycle, West Indies’ top three have scored at an average of only 24, which is better only than Bangladesh’s 23.62.
Head-to-head record
In 57 matches, Pakistan have won 22 games while West Indies are only two wins behind them. The remaining 15 matches ended in a draw.
Where to watch
Caribbean: ESPN Caribbean
Pakistan: Tapmad
United Kingdom: TNT Sports
India: FanCode (streaming only)
Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
USA & Canada: Willow TV
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