HAD ST KITTS’ Prime Minister Denzil Douglas declared today a public holiday, at least ten per cent of this tiny Eastern Caribbean island’s population of 35 000 would converge at Warner Park to cheer on Darren Sammy’s triumphant West Indies team.
He did not, and ticket sales have been slow. But whether 3 500 fans or even 1 500 converge on the venue, Sammy yesterday said the Caribbean cricketers would be hunting a series victory over Pakistan in the second and final Digicel Test to leapfrog their opponents in the Test rankings.
“We all know what is at stake and definitely have that at the back of our minds.
“If we win the series, we definitely go one step closer toward our goal of moving up the rankings,” an upbeat Sammy said after a final session in the nets.
“This will be a motivation for the guys. Winning a series at home against a higher ranked team is a massive boost and everybody will be looking to go out there and put their best foot forward. It’s been a while since we won a series,” he added.
However, Sammy, buoyed by his match-winning fourth five-wicket Test haul, warned that the Guyana celebration after their 40-run triumph to take a 1-0 series lead, has ended and it is now back to work.
“We celebrated our Test victory and we are back at work and focusing on the second Test and we are looking to give another good outing,” he said.
“The victory is a boost in confidence for the guys. The belief in the team is improving and everybody believes that they can go out there and win against Pakistan,” he added.
Sammy reckons the West Indies batsmen should be able to cope more effectively with the Pakistani spinners, as they have been constantly shown different methods to play such bowling by new batting consultant Desmond Haynes.
“Throughout the series, spin has been our problem and I must commend the guys for the effort, the fight they showed on a difficult Guyana wicket, and this pitch, hopefully will be much better,” he said.
“It looks like a typical St Kitts wicket. If you apply yourself, it is encouraging for strokeplay but we have to assess in the first hour, whether we bat or bowl, and look to play accordingly,” Sammy noted.
“Cricket is about runs and wickets and if you put runs on the board, we back our bowlers to defend it.”
West Indies have made one change to their winning first Test XI, with out-of-sorts left-handed opener Devon Smith, who has been an early casualty in both innings, dropped from the 14-man squad, paving the way for a Test debut for 18-year-old Barbadian schoolboy opener Kraigg Brathwaite.
However, it is left to be seen if the selectors will boldly rest fast bowler Kemar Roach, who has not been at his best in the series, for his more experienced Barbadian compatriot Fidel Edwards, or even play Marlon Samuels ahead of the promising Darren Bravo.
Pakistan’s captain Misbah-ul-Haq also warned the Windies of a backlash from his team.
“When you lose a Test, it is really a disappointing thing for you, but you never live in the past and we are just hoping that this is an opportunity to come here and play good cricket and try to win this Test match.
“Everybody is focused and the team is just ready to play,” he said yesterday ahead of his team’s last training session.
But he was heartened by the look of the pitch, which has been supervised by head groundsman Everton “Milk” Holliday.
“It looks a good pitch. I think it is far better than the previous one for batting and looks like it will be hard work for the bowlers.”
The only two Tests at this ground, against India in 2006 and South Africa last year, produced high-scoring draws with eight centuries and three 500 plus totals.