India's golden chance to end hoodoo

India's world ranking has long been based on their formidable home form but the side is aiming to impress new coach Anil Kumble by showing they can adapt outside the subcontinent in a four-Test series against the West Indies starting Thursday midnight (AEST) in Antigua.

For the hosts, the task is more straightforward – simply proving they can still be competitive in the long form of the game.

Since last touring the West Indies in 2011, when they ground out a 1-0 Test series victory (with two draws), India have lost six consecutive series outside Asia – two each in England and Australia and one apiece in South Africa and New Zealand.

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Their record in that time is one win, 15 defeats and five draws.

That does not include a 2-1 series victory in Sri Lanka last year, with conditions typically similar to those encountered at home.

Former captain and leg-spinning great Kumble was recently appointed coach of India, second behind Australia in the Test rankings, after pitching a plan to fix that miserable away record.

And while he has moved to tighten discipline, introducing a fine of $50 for being late, he shies away from being branded a strict disciplinarian.

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"Whether I am strict or lenient, you will probably have to ask the team," he said recently.

Kumble could hardly ask for a better chance to start on a winning note than against a Windies team weakened by administrative conflict and the unavailability of several key players, with fast bowler Jerome Taylor the latest to retire from the Test format.

While the West Indies excel in the Twenty20 format, they are eighth in the Test rankings, ahead of only Bangladesh.

Kumble has stressed his team must demonstrate patience throughout the series and Windies allrounder Carlos Brathwaite agrees from his side's perspective.

"We expect to face a lot of spin against the Indians in this series, so it is about playing the waiting game," said Brathwaite, who blasted four sixes in a row against England in April to seal the West Indies' World T20 triumph.

"We need to look to spend long periods at the crease, so we are preaching that in the dressing room."

After Antigua, the remaining Tests are in Jamaica (July 30), St Lucia (August 9) and Trinidad (August 18).