The boycott of the Test series against Bangladesh by West Indies players over their dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) with regards to contracts gave cricketers like Ryan Austin a chance to represent a makeshift team. An offspinner, known to be useful down the order, Austin came into the series with a successful 2008-09 domestic season for Combined Campuses and Colleges, picking up 60 wickets at 24.06.

However, Austin struggled with the ball against Bangladesh, bagging just three wickets at 51.66 in the two Tests. He proved handy with the bat, though, displaying an ability to block and frustrate the opposition with some determined resistance. He was overlooked for the ODI series and subsequently the ICC Champions Trophy.