In the intense heat of the Narendra Modi Stadium, West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican meticulously practiced his bowling ahead of the upcoming Test series against India. For a solid 35 minutes on Tuesday, his routine was a precise ‘one step, rock back, bowl,’ designed to enhance his action and generate more revolutions on the ball.
At 33, Warrican understands the immense responsibility resting on his shoulders if the West Indies are to be competitive. He’s found encouragement in the recent history of spinners thriving in India, recalling the stellar performances of New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner and Ajaz Patel, both of whom claimed ten-wicket hauls in Pune and Mumbai, leading to memorable victories for their team.
Left-arm finger spin, particularly quicker variations, has often proved challenging for Indian batters, even on their home turf. The red-soil pitch prepared for the first Test could very well be Warrican’s greatest ally, provided he maintains impeccable accuracy. He might even be joined by fellow left-arm spinner Khary Pierre, a first-class veteran known for his metronomic precision and pace, who could make his Test debut.
Warrican brings valuable experience from his previous tour to India in 2018. He emphasizes that ‘Day Three and Four, the ball starts turning a lot. First innings runs are going to be vital.’ This insight underscores the importance of a solid batting display early in the match to set up their bowlers for success.
To prepare for this challenge, coach Darren Sammy led the squad through a rigorous six-day training camp. Warrican revealed, ‘We had two all-day sessions after coming here. Batters practiced a lot of sweeps, defensive strokes, pulling off the back foot, and lofted strokes.’ This comprehensive preparation aimed to equip the Windies batsmen to tackle Indian conditions.
Throughout his decade-long career, Warrican has featured in 21 Tests, capturing 73 wickets, including two impressive five-wicket hauls. Both of these came in Multan against Pakistan in January, where a stunning spell of 7-32, though not leading to a team victory, was followed by a decisive 4/43 and 5/27 in the next Test, alongside a crucial 36 not out, paving the way for a rare away win for the West Indies.
Should the red-soil pitch in Ahmedabad behave as expected, mirroring other Indian red-soil tracks, Warrican and his spin colleagues could be in for a productive series, potentially adding several more five-wicket hauls to their records.