KOLKATA – Recognizing?that mastering the spinners will be a critical factor in the outcome of the two-match series against India, West Indies captain Darren Sammy says the regional cricketers will bring the same positive mindset which has helped them to win their last six Tests.
Sammy said playing India, particularly on their home soil, was a much tougher proposition than playing New Zealand, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe – but he felt his side was more than capable of rising to the challenge.
The sides meet in the first Test, starting tomorrow (11:30 p.m. tonight Eastern Caribbean time), at the historic Eden Gardens in this eastern Indian city.
“Looking at the tour match, the batsmen spent time in the middle which was very crucial for us in India because we all know that we have to put runs on the board when playing here – and our bowlers got a good workout,” said Sammy.
“This will be a real test for us. We have played against the opposition that has been placed before us and so India will pose a stronger challenge. But we have to go out there with the same attitude and mentality to win the two Test matches.”
Sammy said the key to victory will be how West Indies combat India’s bevy of spin bowlers.
“Looking at the way teams like Australia and England have played in previous series here, spin played a major factor,” he said. “We have not played the spin bowling well in our last few Tests, but once we can counteract their spin bowlers and put runs on the board – a good first innings total is always important in a Test – over 400 – and then we have to bowl well to restrict them and get a lead of over 100.”
The captain said it would require a total team effort and that all three disciplines of the game must click for the Windies.
“We know over the years we have played really well and put ourselves in good positions, only to lose the Test match due to one bad session of play.
“We cannot afford that in this series. We have to be on our Ps and Qs, and go hard at the Indians because we know they will come hard at us.”
Sammy said he was well aware that West Indies have not won a Test match in India since Courtney Walsh’s side prevailed over Mohammad Azharuddin’s side by 243 runs almost two decades ago in Mohali.
“Success is about winning,” he said. “We have not won a Test in India for a long time, but we drew a Test in Mumbai on our last visit, which was the first time in a long time that we had drawn a Test here.
“We are looking to go one step further and we believe that once we play to our full potential – with the experience we have now on this trip – we can win.
“We have far more experienced batting than when last visited two years ago and Shivnarine Chanderpaul was our only experienced batsman.”
He continued: “Now we have Shiv, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. Two players that were young then, Darren Bravo and Kieran Powell, have matured. Narsingh Deonarine and Kirk Edwards were part of the ‘A’ team that visited recently and did well, so we have more experience in the batting.
“Shane Shillinford, our main spinner, has taken 20 wickets in his last two Tests and conditions will favour him, as well as Veerasammy Permaul, together with our fast bowlers and me.
I believe we can get 20 wickets to win a Test.”
The West Indies skipper said it was good to be playing Test matches again, following a heavy diet of One-day and Twenty20 matches over the last seven months.
“It is also another opportunity for us to further work on the goals we have,” he said. “We broke into the top five earlier this year and this is another chance for us to move a little higher in the rankings.
“It’s also going to be exciting because it’s the farewell series for [Indian batting legend] Sachin Tendulkar, but we are planning to take it very, very seriously, and look to give a good account of ourselves to win these two Tests.”
Sammy said the farewell for Tendulkar has energized the bowling unit with everyone seeking to have the privilege
of being the bowler to snare him. for the last time in Tests. (WICB Media/EZS)
