West Indies enter the second Test against Pakistan with a sense of confidence, after a stellar performance in Tarouba, but skipper Roston Chase has asked his side to stay on their toes and make the Caribbean a tough proposition for the visitors.
The series deciding Test will commence at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain on Sunday, and West Indies are aiming to secure a fourth home series win. The hosts won the first Test by 90 runs and will now try to build on that result and go on improving their red-ball cricket.
The team’s improvement is the result of a clear plan that was formulated after a difficult 2025 season, Chase said. The West Indies have won just one Test in their nine matches last year, but their form has shown signs of improvement in the last few games.
West Indies targeting another home victory
The West Indies skipper is banking on home advantage as a significant advantage for his team. The team have been dominant in their innings and 217-run win over Sri Lanka in the last Test before the second Test and have also drawn the second Test against Pakistan in Tarouba, which boosted their confidence.
We want to make home our fortress where it is difficult for teams to come here and beat us,” Chase said.
He feels that West Indies should have an edge because they are familiar with the conditions and opponents are not able to adjust to the pitches and weather in the region. The win would also propel the hosts ahead of England in the World Test Championship table.
Pakistan facing a difficult challenge
Pakistan come into Trinidad with a lot of pressure on them following eight straight defeats in the Tests. They have had a tough run, having faced series in Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and now in the Caribbean.
The visitors must make huge strides with bat and ball to avoid the defeat of West Indies in the series. The bowling strategy may also vary according to the conditions at Queen’s Park Oval.
The Trinidad surface is expected to be more conducive to spin than the one used for the first Test in Tarouua. Pakistan can thus field a strong spinner in the form of Sajid Khan in addition to Ali Usman and also utilise Salman Agha for extra overs.
Chase hopeful of bowling
West Indies may also need to tweak their bowling options. Chase, who will be a second spinner in the first Test with Jomel Warrican, was unable to bowl in the previous Test due to a finger injury.
The captain is still optimistic he will be able to play in Port of Spain with the ball. He has already started to bowl in the nets and is hoping to bowl a few overs without too much discomfort.
It would also be worth considering uncapping left arm spinner Joshua Bishop for the West Indies, if the Queen’s Park Oval surface provides sufficient assistance to field two specialist spinners.
The series is tied up and West Indies will be aiming to use the confidence they have built on their first-Test win and execute the game with discipline. Chase’s goal is simple: another fine performance at home and another move towards a Caribbean that is truly a fortress for Test cricket.
