Uphill task for West Indies

In the 1980s and for much of the 1990s, going to the West Indies was the toughest test around, and most visiting teams began a tour with very little hope of winning even a single Test. But since 2000, the situation has changed so drastically that West Indies have struggled to win home Tests against any of the top teams on a regular basis. The loss of quality fast bowlers and consistent batsmen has meant that West Indies have found it virtually impossible to post competitive scores and defend them. For a team that did not lose a single home series for 22 years between 1973 and 1995, their recent record has been extraordinarily poor. They have won only three series since 2000 against teams other than Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and have won more than one Test in a series only once in the same period.

India, on the other hand, have been in the ascendancy over the last few years. Home series wins over Australia in 2008 and 2010 were followed by their first drawn series in South Africa. Perhaps the most notable achievement has been their ability to win Tests in venues where they have failed to perform well in the past. Aided by Rahul Dravid's impressive batting, India won the Jamaica Test in 2006 and displayed tremendous character to win in Perth (2008) and Durban (2010). Although fielding a weakened side, India will start firm favourites against a West Indies team that has been highly inconsistent in Tests.

In their heyday in the 1980s, West Indies were virtually unbeatable at home, with only Pakistan managing to draw a series in the Caribbean. In home Tests between 1980 and 1999, they had a batting average of 35 and bowling average just over 27. They did even better against India in the same period, when they won six Tests and lost none. However in 50 home Tests since 2000, they have won just ten and lost 20. The overall bowling average is nearly 38 and the batting average has dropped to just over 32 in that period. Against India, the numbers are much more even, with batting and bowling averages around the 35 mark.

Not only has West Indies' recent away record been ordinary, but their home performances in the last three years have also been well below par. They have won three and lost eight Tests since 2007 and have a batting average just over 30. Their bowling average of 39.70 is the worst among all teams. While England have won the most home Tests (16) in the same period, India and Sri Lanka have the best win-loss ratio (5.5). West Indies also have the lowest number of centuries (14), fifties (34) and five-wicket hauls (5) among all teams in the same period.

Despite the return of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, West Indies will still rue the absence of Chris Gayle who has been in exceptional form in Tests and the IPL recently. Ramnaresh Sarwan showed glimpses of his old form in the last two ODIs, and will be a vital part of the West Indian middle order. Along with Darren Bravo's encouraging display in the last ODI, the return of the talented Adrian Barath at the top of the order is a huge boost to the West Indies.

The absence of Tendulkar, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir is a blessing to youngsters like Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina who are looking to cement their spots in the Test team. Dravid, whose twin half-centuries were crucial in India's previous win in Jamaica in 2006, has not been among the runs in the last two years, and will see this as a great opportunity to bat himself into form ahead of the challenging tour of England.

West Indies showed promise on the bowling front in the two-Test series against Pakistan. Captain Darren Sammy bowled with discipline and Kemar Roach and Devendra Bishoo were very impressive too. The return of the pacy Fidel Edwards is a further boost to an improving attack. India, on the other hand, will struggle to replace Zaheer Khan, and will hope for Ishant Sharma to step up. Amit Mishra has been in excellent form in the ODI series with 11 wickets, and is likely to play as a second spinner alongside Harbhajan Singh.

Of the four Tests that India have won in the West Indies, three have been in Trinidad. Their only other win came in a low-scoring game in 2006 in Jamaica, which will host the first Test starting on June 20. Jamaica has proved to be a happy hunting ground for the home side, who have won six and lost four games since 2000. More importantly, every match played in Jamaica since 2000 has yielded a result, and considering the sporting nature of the wicket in the final ODI, the first Test is likely to be evenly balanced for both bat and ball. Barbados, where West Indies did not lose a single Test for 59 years between 1935 and 1994, has not been quite as formidable a venue in recent years. West Indies have lost four and won three matches at the Kensington Oval since 2000. Jamaica has proven to be the tougher track to bat on of the two, and has lower averages in each of the four match innings, with the third innings being most difficult one to bat in (average 17.32). In matches since 2000, pace bowlers have been far more successful in Jamaica, where they have picked up 264 wickets at an average of 23.95 as compared to Barbados, where they have picked up 244 wickets at 32.04. Spinners have generally had a tough time at both venues, but have done slightly better in Jamaica (76 wickets at 32.13) as compared to Barbados (99 wickets at 36.50).