Kraigg Brathwaite will lead West Indies in their Zimbabwe challenge

West Indies wants to gain confidence and momentum early on in this year's campaign by playing the longest format. On the other side, Zimbabwe has the ideal chance to stake a claim in test cricket and show off their skills in front of their home audience. The West Indies and the host nation engaged in a three-day warm-up match earlier this week at the same location where both of the planned tests would be held. 

The Men in Maroon put on an impressive performance and amassed a whopping 517 runs in the first innings while batting first. Kraigg Brathwaite, the captain of the Windies, struck a fantastic hundred in the exhibition game and will undoubtedly want to keep up his performance. Zimbabwe will be without their famous all-rounder Sikandar Raza for the series because of obligations abroad. However, Gary Ballance's inclusion in the Craig Ervine-captained Zimbabwean team would provide the team's batting order greater solidity.