West Indies hold first practice in Mirpur as coach Darren Sammy inspects the wicket closely

Ahead of the two-match Test series, the West Indies team have completed their first practice session in Bangladesh. The Caribbean cricketers worked on batting, fielding and fitness at the outer ground of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. Before practice, head coach Darren Sammy inspected the Mirpur wicket closely.

The West Indies team arrived in Bangladesh in two groups on Sunday (18 October). After a day's rest, they took to practice for the first time on Tuesday (20 October). Adapting to Bangladeshi conditions ahead of the Test series was the main aim of the session.

The cricketers began practice with warm-ups and a team meeting. They then kept themselves busy with running, fitness work, catching drills and fielding practice. The visiting side gave equal importance to physical preparation for the long format and to sharpening their fielding.

Before practice, head coach Darren Sammy was seen observing the Mirpur wicket with great attention. He knows well that the behaviour of the wicket plays a big role in determining the course of a Test match. So, alongside the batters' practice, trying to understand the character of the wicket was also part of his preparation.

Sammy ran a long slip-catching session with his players beside the centre wicket. Considering the importance of catching in Test cricket, the team paid extra attention to this special fielding practice — because in a big match, a single dropped catch can change the entire picture of the game.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's Mominul Haque, Sadman Islam and Ebadot Hossain were seen preparing in the Mirpur nets ahead of the coming series. Their practice was supervised by coach Mohammad Salahuddin. The bustle of preparation was clear in the home camp as well ahead of a home series.

The importance of this series in Bangladesh's recent Test journey is not small. Alongside proving themselves at home, the hosts also face a fight to keep alive their dream of reaching the World Test Championship final.

However, with most of Bangladesh's cricketers currently busy in a tri-nation series in the United Arab Emirates, the Test preparation has a separate equation. After the limited-overs series they will have to handle the challenge of returning to the team and adapting to the Test rhythm — which is why the early practice of the three cricketers in Mirpur carries separate significance.

According to the schedule, the West Indies will play a two-day practice match on 22 and 23 October at the Anvir Cricket Stadium of ABG Sports City. That match will give the Caribbean cricketers a chance to test themselves in match conditions.

Then the main contest will begin. The first Test of the series starts on 28 October at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur and will run until 1 November. The two teams will then travel to Sylhet for the second Test; the final match of the series starts there on 5 November and ends on 9 November.

Sammy's close inspection of the Mirpur wicket shows the visitors are not taking this series lightly. They have chosen understanding the conditions as their first task in order to overcome the hosts' home advantage — the picture from the first practice session at least says that much.

Cricket fans now await the practice match and the first Test. How the Mirpur wicket behaves and how far the two teams' preparation pays off on the field — the answers will come in the white-clothing contest starting on 28 October.