Latest update September 6th, 2026 10:45 AM
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Series, ICC Test Championship positions at stake
By Rawle Welch
When the two captains tread out to the middle to spin the toss to get the Fourth Test underway today at the Kensington Oval, both of them will know that victory for either side should be enough to preserve their current rankings on the ICC Test Championship.
The West Indies currently placed seventh just a fraction of a rating point ahead of New Zealand in the championship will have to ensure that they do not lose the series by two matches or more, while England who seems to be under more strain will know that conceding the series by 2-0, 3-1 or worse could see them relinquish their fifth position to Pakistan.
The West Indies currently clinging to a slim 1-0 lead will be looking to take full advantage of the current state of affairs in the English camp, missing two key players in inspirational all-rounder Andrew Flintoff (hip injury) and wicketkeeper batsman Matt Prior has since returned home to be with his wife following the birth of the couple’s first son.
On the other hand, West Indies have named an unchanged squad and are likely to keep the same eleven that scraped an important draw in the Third Test in Antigua last week.
Once regarded as the citadel for West Indies success, the Kensington Oval despite a few recent losses, still ranks as one of the venues in the Caribbean with the best record for the regional side.
Since 1930, Kensington has hosted 44 test matches with 21 wins for the West Indies as against 8 losses and 15 draws.
Only Sabina Park with 22 victories, 9 losses and 13 draws can draw comparison with it.
On their previous visit in 2004, the English romped to an easy eight-wicket triumph and has the best record on the ground against the West Indies for visiting teams who’ve played 5 or more tests.
They’ve won 3 matches and lost 4 in 13 attempts and perhaps, they might want to reflect on those performances in the past to conjure up enough confidence that could possibly re-supply self-belief after the Jamaica loss and Antigua’s near miss.
However, their efforts to rebound could be thwarted with the reality that the venue is a happy hunting ground for the world’s No.1 batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who averages 64.27 from 8 matches with an aggregate of 707 runs and even though he has not scored heavily as yet in the series, many fans are of the opinion he is due for a ‘big’ score. Maybe, cricket fans at the Kensington Oval could witness something special from ‘Tiger’.
Then there is Ramnaresh Sarwan, who has been in imperious form from the start of the series with knocks of 107, 94 and 106 and apart from one act of recklessness seems to be handling the opposition’s bowlers with consummate ease.
The other plus for the Windies is that some of the non-performers in the series so far will know that there are a few other players knocking on the door and failure this time around could cost them their places so they too will be striving for better performances and this could be the occasion, providing a timely boost for the team’s chances of winning the Test.
With Captain Gayle stating that he prefers a settled team rather than one that is being chopped and changed, there is a strong possibility that West Indies will retain the same eleven that played the Third Test, once again leaving the in-form Lendl Simmons out, while Daren Powell, who himself has spoken about his wretched form with the ball, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor and Sulieman Benn should retain their places.
England in the absence of Flintoff and Prior have to make forced changes bringing in players to fill their positions and the two that stands out immediately is wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose and Ravi Bopara.
Ambrose, who hit a maiden century against New Zealand in Wellington, last year, seems certain of his place, but even with a century on the tour against a Barbados Cricket Association President’s XI, Bopara could still find himself in a tussle for the No.6 spot with Ian Bell, who also made runs in the tour match.
The same bowling line-up that included Graeme Swann, James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steve Harmison should be the men leading the English bowling attack.
The importance of this Test could not be overstated and fans can brace themselves for a riveting contest.
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