As the West Indies prepare for the start of the Test series beginning at Lord’s on Wednesday, their former coach, Barbados fast bowler Ottis Gibson, 55, now in charge at Yorkshire, says he’s cautiously optimistic about the team’s prospects in the three matches – the other two, later this month, are at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston.

Gibson, who coached West Indies between 2010 and 2014, winning the T20 World Cup in 2012, is vastly experienced, having also worked as England’s bowling coach (20072010, 2015-2017) and then as South Africa’s head coach (2017-2019); he keeps in contact with Caribbean...