THE WEST INDIES' newest batch of Test cricketers had only 18.5 overs to weather yet another storm at Arnos Vale here yesterday.

This time, it was the fickle Caribbean weather in July which ruined the opening day of the first Digicel Test against Bangladesh.

After their "hurricane" arrival in St Vincent and the Grenadines a day before the toss was spun by new captain Floyd Reifer, they had to wait until after lunch to show their readiness for international cricket.

Bangladesh, who boldy decided to bat in the overcast conditions, reached 42 without loss when the clouds, which looked ominous throughout the day, dumped plenty of rain water on the lush-green outfield, forcing an early finish in mid-afternoon.

The stop-start situation surely summed what has been going on in West Indies in recent times.

The Windies fielded an inexperienced make-shift second-string side with seven debutants and the other four with only 22 Test caps among them.

Barbadian pair Tino Best and Kemar Roach were entrusted with the new ball and managed to extract some bounce from a slow surface after morning rain washed out the first session.

Bangladesh's left-handed openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes endured a few anxious moments before settling down to look very solid against the Windies' seam attack.

Tamim, who played cautiously for 14 not out off 62 balls, edged Best over the slips for four, while Kayes, after falling on his backside to evade a snorter from Roach, got two cover-driven boundaries in moving to 26 off 62 balls.

Best was replaced by Darren Sammy, who got the ball to seam a bit from a little moisture in the pitch, which had to be covered again after another rain stoppage at 36 without loss when tea was taken.

The only real action in the brief post-tea play was when Best, switched to the northern end, to replace David Bernard who had two overs of medium pace, knocked the bat from Kayes' grip with a high full-pitched delivery.