Amid the gloom and doom in West Indies cricket, their pace attack appears to be a silver lining ahead of the two-Test series against India beginning in Dominica on Wednesday.

The quicks did put in a decent job when the Windies last played a Test series, earlier in February and March in South Africa. The Proteas had swept the series 2-0, but not after they were given a scare by the likes of Alzarri Joseph and Kemar Roach.

Joseph could be the Windies’ “enforcer” in the coming Tests, believes their former head coach Phil Simmons. “Obviously, Alzarri will have to play a special role in the series,” Simmons told The Telegraph from London. “He has to be that enforcer for the West Indies. The captain (Kraigg Brathwaite) also has to utilise him wisely.

“If Shannon Gabriel (another pacer alongside Roach, Joseph and Jason Holder for the opening Test) gets it right, the better will it be for the West Indies. But Alzarri’s role will surely be a crucial one. He has to stay strong right through,” Simmons, whose tenure as the Windies head coach got over towards the end of 2022, emphasised.

In the Caribbean, India have won all Test series over the past 17 years. Simmons though stays optmistic.

“I do think the Windies have a decent chance in this series since they’re playing at home. Early last year, they had beaten England (1-0) at home, while they didn’t play too badly in South Africa either.

“Moreover, they’re much more relaxed when playing at home. It won’t be too easy for the visiting teams,” the former all-rounder, who was at the helm when the Windies won the T20 World Cup for the second time back in 2016, said.

As for India, their batting remains a concern against disciplined bowling.

“India though have showed (in the Caribbean) that they can adapt,” Simmons pointed out, adding: “The pitch there sometimes aids quicks and sometimes spinners.As far as the Indian batsmen are concerned, I haven’t watched them in depth, but I’m certainly waiting to see what they do.”