(CRICINFO) – It is exactly 25 years since West Indies were spun out by Abdul Qadir for 53, to date the lowest Test score in Pakistan. Back then, such collapses were freak occurrences for West Indies, but things have changed drastically since. On the current tour, they have been caught napping more than once by Bangladesh’s army of left-armers. After subsiding to a shocking 61 all out in the third ODI, they were exposed by the home team’s newest recruit, Elias Sunny, in the first Test.
West Indies will be relieved that the action now shifts out of the spinner-friendly Chittagong, but that won’t be reason enough for them to drop their guard.
There was little to take out of Chittagong after the ground’s ridiculous drainage facilities robbed the match of two full days of action. Still, Mushfiqur Rahim’s adventurous declarations ensured that the moral victories went Bangladesh’s way.
The West Indies batsmen faced no scoreboard pressure when they eventually took guard on the fourth afternoon, but the bulk of the top order – Kirk Edwards, Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo in specific – were hopelessly exposed by the turn.
To make matters worse, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Lendl Simmons – two of their better players of spin – picked up injuries, which must have hampered their preparation for the second Test even if they recover in time.
West Indies will be hoping for a little more zip and carry in Mirpur to help their quietly impressive new-ball attack, while Bangladesh’s spinners will have less assistance. The visitors will be anxious for victory for there’s more than just the series at stake.
The home supporters will welcome even a drawn series, but if Bangladesh manage to win, it will be their first series victory against any full-strength Test team (though in Chris Gayle’s absence, it is tough to term this side so), and will give them a 3-3 overall win-loss record against the once-mighty West Indies. Can the tourists’ shaky middle order deny them?
West Indies will sweat on the fitness of Chanderpaul and Simmons. If either of them misses out, Kieran Powell will expect to come into the XI, while Bishoo also had an injury scare in the latter stages of the first Test, but is expected to be available in Mirpur.
Darren Bravo, Brathwaite and Kirk Edwards may have done just enough to hold onto their spots. Kemar Roach should continue to carry drinks since there is only room for two fast bowlers in the XI, in addition to Darren Sammy’s medium pace.

West Indies (probable): Lendl Simmons or Kieran Powell,  Kraigg Brathwaite,  Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo,  Marlon Samuels,  Shivnarine Chanderpaul,  Darren Sammy (capt.), Carlton Baugh,  Ravi Rampaul, Fidel Edwards and Devendra Bishoo

Bangladesh (probable): Tamim Iqbal,  Imrul Kayes,  Shahriar Nafees,  Raqibul Hasan,  Shakib Al Hasan,  Mushfiqur Rahim (capt. & wkp.), Naeem Islam,  Nasir Hossain,  Elias Sunny,  Rubel Hossain and Shahadat Hossain.