West Indies celebrate 500th Test Match
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the most capped West Indies Test cricketer and will play his 158th match today
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the most capped West Indies Test cricketer and will play his 158th match today

GROS ISLET, St Lucia – West Indies cricket will mark a special milestone today when the West Indies team play their 500th Test match.

The landmark will be celebrated when they take on Bangladesh in the second and final Dhaka Bank Test match at Beausejour Cricket Ground.
First ball today is 10:00hrs (09:00hrs Jamaica Time).
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is the most capped West Indies Test cricketer and will play his 158th match today. He described it as a “great and special occasion”. Skipper Denesh Ramdin said the entire team is looking forward to the match and called it a “celebration for West Indies fans worldwide”.
“This is a wonderful occasion for West Indies cricket and I’m delighted to be part of it,” said Chanderpaul on the eve of the match. “This is a milestone that we have achieved and as a West Indian I am proud and I want to keep the West Indies flag flying as high as possible.”
The 40-year-old left-hander made his Test debut over 20 years ago and has scored 11 499 runs at an average of over 52 runs per innings, including 29 centuries and 64 half-centuries.
“I will remind the fellows in the dressing room about the history and where we came from … about the past and how as West Indians we have to fight as hard as we can. We are a people who will never give up … who will fight all the way.”
Chanderpaul added: “As a youngster when I came into the team, I was among many greats, and I got a full appreciation of what it meant to represent the West Indies. We have a rich legacy and a great history and we are all happy to be part of this great match.”
Ramdin is leading the West Indies in his fifth Test since taking over in June. He applauded the team for their win in the first Dhaka Bank Test in St Vincent and said he is looking for his first series win at the helm.
“This is a very special occasion … everyone is looking forward to it. This is very exciting. We will look to come out and give a good account of ourselves as we did in the last match in St Vincent and take home a victory for ourselves and our fans,” said the 29-year-old wicketkeeper.
“I am honoured, happy and privileged to be the man leading the team in this historic match. This is not just a special occasion for us as players but also for West Indians everywhere and West Indies fans and supporters worldwide.”
He added: “This is something for us to cherish and celebrate and we will look to win and celebrate the match and the series. We want to pay tribute to all the great people who have contributed to the history and development of West Indies cricket so this helps to add to the special occasion.”
The second Dhaka Bank Test will be played from today to next Wednesday. West Indies lead the two-match Dhaka Bank Test Series 1-0 following their 10-wicket victory earlier this week at Arnos Vale, St Vincent.
West Indies played their first Test match against England at Lords in 1928. The record is: 162 wins, 168 defeats, 168 draws and one tie. To date 299 players have represented the West Indies in the 499 Tests. (WICB)

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