Rajendra Chandrika

Even though Bishoo and Brathwaite’s 95-run stand for the ninth wicket took the game in to the last session of the day, Ashwin’s second-best career figures of 7 for 83 ensured India took a 1-0 lead in the four-match series with an emphatic victory by an innings and 92 runs.

Leon Johnson has been named skipper of WICB President's XI as they get ready to play visiting Indians in a two-day practice match at Warner Park in St. Kitts on July 9 and 10.

Uncapped fast bowler Miguel Cummins replaced Jerome Taylor in the upcoming Test series against India, the West Indies Cricket Board announced.

The three-day match will more or less decide the final playing XI for India and both the batsmen and bowlers will look to make their performance count and earn a place in the team for the first Test at Antigua starting July 21.

Leg-spinner Amit Mishra shone with four wickets but the Indian fast bowlers were far from impressive as their two-day warm-up match against West Indies Cricket Board President's XI ended in a draw on Sunday.

Anil Kumble’s innings as India coach began on a rousing note when his boys gifted him a crushing win over West Indies in the first Test here on Sunday.

India's new chief coach Anil Kumble will be keeping a keen eye on speedster Mohammed Shami's fitness along with the form of opener Shikhar Dhawan when the team begin its tour of West Indies with a two-day warm-up game against WICB President's XI on Saturday.

India's R Ashwin has reclaimed the top spot on the ICC's rankings for Test bowlers, following his seven-wicket haul against West Indies at North Sound on Sunday. Ashwin gained five ratings points following his second-innings figures of 7/83.

West Indies' skipper Jason Holder has said that their top-order will need to fire on the "best pitch in the Caribbean" in St Lucia and use it to good effect.

A combination of incisive pace bowling and insipid batting by West Indies helped India sniffing a win within four days in the first Test here at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Grounds on Saturday.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed opener Leon Johnson cheaply but India could not make much inroads into the rival batting line-up after initial success as the West Indies Board's President XI reached 67/1 at lunch on day two of their warm up game.

Ajinkya Rahane's seventh Test century gave India a lead of 304 runs over West Indies before heavy showers interrupted proceedings at Sabina Park.

Unless, West Indies put up a show long expected of them, India look favourites to make in 2-0 at Jamaica.

Two days in to the opening Test match at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua, Simmons strategy to stick to one plan clearly did not work as India amassed 566 runs for the loss of eight wickets before declaring their innings.

The Indian team enjoyed an off day here in a bid to brush off the disappointment of not winning the second Test in Jamaica from a commanding position.

Mohammad Shami (4/66) and Umesh Yadav (4/41) helped India bundle West Indies out in the first innings for 243 on day three of the first Test match. Following on, the hosts reached 21/1, trailing India by 302 runs.

R Ashwin picked up his 18th five-wicket haul, second of the series as India toppled West Indies for 196 on a lively Kingston surface. India replied well with opener KL Rahul's half-century and trail West Indies by 70 runs.

Stung by a remarkable fightback from West Indies on the final day of the rain-hit second Test, India will have to look at their bowling combinations and get back to winning ways when the third cricket Test begins on Tuesday.

"Understanding a bowler's psyche is a challenge and it is difficult for a batter to understand that. Kumble understands how the situation is and conditions are, he might give you the right impetus that you need," Ashwin said.