Which memories will be rekindled?

Premier all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will be hoping to relive the sweet memories of 2009 when he leads Bangladesh out for the first of the two Tests against the West Indies in Antigua today.

It was in 2009 that Shakib was put in charge of the Test side for the first time after then skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza limped off the ground due to an injury on the third day of the first Test in Kingstown. With Shakib as stand-in skipper, Bangladesh went on to register a 95-run victory -- the Tigers' first overseas Test victory.

After Mashrafe was ruled out of the entire series, Shakib was officially appointed skipper and he put on an all-round performance on his official debut, helping Bangladesh beat the Windies by four wickets in the second Test to earn the Tigers' maiden overseas Tests series victory.

"In nine years, this is the biggest thing that has happened to Bangladesh cricket. This series victory will give boost our confidence and help take us to the next level," Shakib hoped after leading Bangladesh to a historic series victory.

However, Shakib's hopes of Bangladesh reaching the 'next level' in Tests unfortunately never materialised as the Tigers' trajectory in the format trended downhill, with only a few achievements in between.

Even in his second stint as Test skipper, which also began with Tests away to West Indies in 2018, Shakib saw Bangladesh suffer a horrible whitewash. In that two-Test series, Bangladesh were bundled out for just 43 in Antigua -- still their lowest total in a Test innings.

It is at the same ground in Antigua that Shakib will begin his third stint as the Test captain. And the premier all-rounder will definitely be hoping to banish those dreadful memories and help Bangladesh go to the 'next level' as he had hoped back in 2009.