West Indies v Pakistan Second Test Tips: Keep batting collapses onside

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Sunday 2 August, 15:00
TV: Sky Sports

West Indies v Pakistan second Test team news

West Indies have a 1-0 lead after taking full advantage of a pitch which deteriorated in Tarouba. But it was pace which did the damage instead of spin so Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales are expected to continue.

That means there is no way back in for Alzarri Joseph, who coach Daren Sammy said asked to be dropped. A war of words is heating up. With Test wins rare, Windies are unlikely to want to change a victorous XI regardless.

The hosts will want more from their batting line-up which got into a dominant position in the first-innings only to collapse. It has become a habit. With Roston Chase at No 7 there should be no reason for falling away cheaply.

Probable XI: Chanderpaul, King, Hodge, Hope, Jangoo, Greaves, Chase, Warrican, Roach, Shamar, Seales

Pakistan, have been forced into a change, losing Shan Masood to a fractured finger. Abdullah Shafique looks set to come in. Masood's injury is a blow as he batted nicely in their first innings.

They also suffered batting collapses but one more than Windies and that was the game. Again Salman Agha and Mohammad Rizwan, at Nos 6 and No 7 respectively, should really offer security against implosion.

To add more ballast to the batting and variance to the bowling, spinner Sajid Khan could get a game. Ali Usman, who got the spin-bowling all-rounder role in game one would be the one to make way.

They will prune one pacer from Mohammad Sli, Ubaid Shah and Khurram Shahzad.

Possible XI: Awais, Imam, Shafique, Babar, Shakeel, Salman, Rizwan, Aamer Jamal, Sajid Khan, Ali/Ubaid/Khurram, Abbas

West Indies v Pakistan second Test pitch report 

For the second consecutive Test we have a contest with little or no ground form to go on. Tarouba had not hosted a Test before. The Queen's Park Oval, although storied, has seen only two Tests since 2018. They were in 2023 and 2024 and both draws with India and South Africa the visitors.

India batted first and posted 438 with Windies then rolled for 255. It was another collapse from a strong position. But rain was the saver for Windies with the final day washed out with defeat looming. Rain also spoiled a good contest against South Africa. Both teams ran out of overs with the hosts chasing 201. SA had posted 357 in the first dig.

It stands to reason we check the forecast, then. Storms are forecast for days one, four and five. But the rain is not consistent. In domestic cricket there have been five matches played at the venue since 2024. Two have ended in stalemate.

West Indies v Pakistan second Test in-play strategy

The West Indies collapse mentioned in the pitch report is a clue. We have little faith in the home team when set to punch on and drive home an advantage. Likewise Pakistan.

The first Test was characterised by collapses. Both teams were going well in the first innings and would argue they were in control. Both teams failed to occupy the crease for long in the second.

The strategy is simple for both in the first dig. When a partnership is well-established in that top three or four, we want to be shorting their total match runs.

In an ideal world we can wait for the second new ball to be a trigger. That was what sparked the Windies' fall from 245 for five to 311 all out.

West Indies v Pakistan second Test match prediction

West Indies are [7/52.40 with Sportsbook for another win. The draw is 13/53.60 and Pakistan 6/42.50. Those odds seem about right, although we would be slightly nervous about taking pre-toss prices.

Although there is no ground form to go, the decisive factor should be the flip when two teams are both prone to falling in a heap with the bat. We wouldn't want to be on either when they are chasing 150-odd on a wearing, day five surface.

If West Indies get to bat first they would represent a fair option. But do bear in mind the poitential for disaster. Another in-play strategy is to take big prices on the team batting first with a helter skelter match expected.

On the Exchange the draw price to lay is 3.9029/10. That is the one to watch. With first-innings runs likely and rain around, our entry point to lay is 2.407/5.

West Indies v Pakistan second Test player bets

Shai Hope has four wins in the last 10 on the first-innings top bat market for WI. He just pipped Kavem Hodge for honours, who has three wins in 16.

We await milestone prices from Sportsbook, as they would be the preferred play, but at the monment Hope is 9/25.50 for another win. His runs are available at over 25.5 at 5/61.84.

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