Bangladesh win toss, bat against West Indies

Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bat on the rain-affected opening day of the first Test against West Indies on Thursday at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex here.

Not a ball was bowled before the scheduled lunch interval, after intermittent rain delayed the start of play.

The West Indies Cricket Board has been forced into assembling a new-look side, after a contract dispute with its leading players led to a boycott by the 13-member squad which was announced on Monday.

The 13 players, including regular captain Chris Gayle, vice-captain Denesh Ramdin, top batsmen Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, as well as key fast bowler Jerome Taylor are protesting playing four consecutive tournaments without a contract, outstanding payments, and other issues.

But the WICB has found players willing to don the maroon cap, and there will be seven Test newcomers in the final 11 which will be led by long-standing Barbadian left-handed batsman Floyd Reifer.

Of the seven newcomers, fast bowler Kemar Roach has appeared in two ODIs and one Twenty20 International, and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller has played 15 ODIs over the last year.

Opening batsman Dale Richards made the recent trip to England, but failed to break into the Test squad before he returned home early with injury.

The other newcomers include last season's leading domestic wicket-taker, off-spinner Ryan Austin, who captured nine wickets for a West Indies 'A' team in the visitors' opening tour match.

Omar Phillips will open the batting with Richards, Travis Dowlin has played several seasons without being given a chance, and Chadwick Walton is a wicketkeeper and free-scoring batsman.

Darren Sammy is the vice-captain, and is the only player in the 11 that has commanded a regular place in the full-strength West Indies side over the last year.

Alongside Reifer and Sammy, fast bowler Tino Best, who earns a recall after four years in the cricket wilderness, and all-rounder Dave Bernard Jr, who featured in the recent home One-day International series against India, are the only other players to have previously played a Test.

West Indies: Floyd Reifer (captain), Dale Richards, Travis Dowlin, Omar Phillips, Dave Bernard Jr, Chadwick Walton, Darren Sammy, Tino Best, Nikita Miller, Ryan Austin, Kemar Roach

Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Junaid Siddique, Mohammad Ashraful, Raqibul Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Shahadat Hossain, Rubel Hossain

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (SRI), Tony Hill (NZL)

TV umpire: Clive Duncan (WIS)

Reserve umpire: Goaland Greaves (WIS)

Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)