Trinidad: Kavem Hodge guides West Indies on rain-h...

By Rohan Gupta — 26 July 2026 — 4 min read

West Indies reached 194/3 at stumps on the first day of the opening Test against Pakistan at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad. The day’s play was significantly affected by rain and bad light, allowing for only 67 overs. Kavem Hodge was the standout performer for the home side, scoring an unbeaten 83 runs.

Hodge remained at the crease throughout much of the day and was joined by Shai Hope, who contributed an unbeaten 39. Their partnership for the fourth wicket was unbroken, adding 88 runs and helping to stabilize the innings after early setbacks. Hope faced 91 deliveries, providing solid support to Hodge.

Early Challenges and Recovery

Pakistan made an early impact with fast bowler Mohammad Abbas dismissing Brandon King for 12 in the ninth over. This left West Indies struggling at 13/1, with runs coming slowly in the initial session. Abbas continued to impress, finishing the day with figures of 2/44 from 19 overs, making him Pakistan’s most effective bowler.

After the lunch break, the home team began to recover, largely due to Hodge’s leadership in batting. The pitch became more challenging following the rain, but Hodge adapted well. He completed his fourth Test half-century, reaching the milestone off 86 balls and hitting eight fours. Hodge also survived a close call when an lbw decision against him, given by the on-field umpire after Abbas struck his pads, was overturned on review as replays showed the ball bouncing over the stumps.

Other contributions to the West Indies innings included Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who scored 21 before being dismissed by Aamer Jamal. Jamal was making his return to Pakistan’s Test side after an 18-month absence. Amir Jangoo also scored 21 before being trapped lbw by Abbas.

West Indies captain Roston Chase won the toss and opted to bat first. This decision appeared risky early on as Pakistan’s bowlers maintained tight control over the scoring rate during the first session. However, the team recovered effectively in the second and third sessions, primarily due to Hodge’s patient and resilient innings.

Team Changes and Tributes

Both teams featured changes for this Test. Pakistan is playing under the captaincy of Babar Azam, who has returned to the role after Shan Masood was removed following 12 defeats in 16 Tests. The visitors were without opener Abdullah Fazal, who was ruled out of this series and the upcoming England tour due to a lower back injury. Imam-ul-Haq partnered Azan Awais at the top of the batting order.

For West Indies, Alzarri Joseph made himself unavailable for the series, leading to the inclusion of three fast bowlers: Kemar Roach, Shamar Joseph, and Jayden Seales. Jomel Warrican is the team’s specialist spinner. Usman Ali, a left-arm spinner, made his Test debut for Pakistan at the age of 33, showing promising signs with sharp turn from the surface.

Both teams entered the series positioned at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings, each having secured one win. Pakistan is also seeking their first away Test win since their victory over Sri Lanka in 2023.

Before the start of play, a minute’s silence was observed by players from both teams and match officials in memory of West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers, who passed away earlier this month. West Indies players and match officials also wore black armbands as a mark of respect for the legendary all-rounder.

Head coach Daren Sammy expressed his desire for West Indies to build on their recent momentum. He noted that the team has faced challenging fixtures against Australia, India, and New Zealand since he took charge. However, he believes the recent 1-0 home Test series victory over Sri Lanka can be a turning point. Sammy emphasized that the team is not getting carried away by the result but is focused on long-term development and honoring Sir Garfield Sobers‘ legacy throughout the series.

Sammy highlighted the importance of understanding the team’s direction through conversations with the director, captain, and players. He stated that his calm demeanor reflects his understanding of the group’s objectives, rather than external pressures. The opening Test against Pakistan is the first for West Indies since the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers, and Sammy hopes his side can deliver a performance worthy of his contributions to the Test game.

The West Indies aim to continue their positive trajectory, having seen “some light coming through” with the Sri Lanka series, as they now face Pakistan.

Source: icc-cricket.com