West Indies spin sensation Sunil Narine appears certain to miss the three-Test series against Australia but the hosts believe they have another wildcard up their sleeves.

Narine, the Windies’ best bowler during the one-day and Twenty20 series, was reportedly on his way to India to play in the Indian Premier League.

ESPNCricinfo reported Kolkata Knight Riders chief executive Venky Mysore had confirmed Narine was to play the entire IPL, meaning the 23-year-old had decided the $US700,000 ($A680,000) contract was too good to pass up in place of a Test debut against Australia in Bridgetown on Saturday.

But Windies wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh believed current ICC Emerging Player of the Year, Devendra Bishoo, could do just as well in the Test series against an Australian team he did not consider great players of spin.

Bishoo, a 26-year-old leg-spinner, didn’t feature in the ODIs or T20s but is now expected to be the Windies’ main Test spin option.

Baugh thought it would be a bonus that Australia’s batsmen had not faced Bishoo going into the first Test in Barbados.

“It could be (an advantage), and on Bishoo’s day you never know what can happen,” Baugh said.

“To be honest, over the years Australia doesn’t play spin that well.

“Not taking away anything from them, they’re pretty good players, but tradition follows on from the years that they’re not the best players of spin, so it will be very interesting.”

AAP ej/nh/jds