Captain Darren Sammy is convinced the West Indies will learn from Wednesday’s three-wicket loss to Australia in the opening Test and bounce back strongly in Trinidad.
The West Indies crashed to defeat on the final day of the Test at Kensington Oval after controlling more than three days of the contest with disciplined batting and bowling.
“We just lost two hours to Australia in the whole Test match and we’ve got to come back strong and in Trinidad where the wicket should offer some more spin. We have to just go out there and believe we can beat Australia and play five good days of cricket,” Sammy told reporters.
The West Indies batted well in their first innings to pile up 449 for nine declared but let Australia off the hook at 285 for eight, and the visitors went on to reach 406 for nine declared.
The West Indies then faltered in their second innings managing only 148, setting Australia a victory target of 192 which they reached late in the evening.
Sammy said his team had experienced similar situations in recent months, especially on the tour of India last year, and now needed to take the next step in capitalising on their strong positions in games.
“In the past year, we’ve learnt a lot of lessons. I remember Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, basically a similar thing keeps happening, we keep getting close but we need to find a way to get over the last hurdle. We’ve just got to come back strong,” Sammy reiterated.
“I think the bowlers stuck to the plan most of the times, the way the batsmen batted in the first innings leaving along a lot of balls was good. Shiv (Shivnarine Chanderpaul) again showed his experience. We did some good stuff, we just lost it in the second innings.”
Leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo proved a massive disappointment in the game, sending down 53 overs for 169 runs and taking just one wicket.
On the crucial last day on a deteriorating track, he was ineffective and bowled eight overs for 44 runs.
It was left to part-time off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine, who grabbed four for 53, to lead the Windies attack.
“The guys fought hard and Narsingh played a crucial role for us. On a fifth day pitch our champion spinner (Bishoo) who bowled so well for us last year didn’t have the best of games. These things happen,” Sammy said.
The second Test will be played at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad Sunday.
