West Indies coach Daren Sammy has urged his team to remain focused as they chase a rare Test series victory against Sri Lanka in Friday’s second and final Test in Antigua.
The regional side displayed a dominant display in the opening Test at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, crushing the visitors by an innings and 217 runs after Amir Jangoo and Roston Chase struck centuries in a record-breaking sixth-wicket partnership.
Veteran fastbowler Kemar Roach also claimed his 300th Test wicket, but Sammy insisted his team would not look beyond the task at hand in Friday’s encounter.
“Ball by ball, session by session and we go about doing it like that and staying hungry. Everybody starts at zero. AmirJangoo starts at zero,
Roston Chase starts at zero, Jaden Seales starts at 98 wickets. Every single person has to do it over again,” Sammy stated, during a pre-match interview.
He, however, acknowledged that victory in the first Test had boosted the team’s confidence and provided valuable momentum heading into the second and final Test.
“It gives you that belief in the work that you put in, the plans that you’ve put in and the way you want to play. To see them coming to fruition,
(players) trusting in the process and guys taking ownership. Roston Chase as the captain leading from the front. Amir Jangoo staying ready, and not forgetting the opening stand 50 run partnership from Brandon King and John Campbell,” he maintained.
The head coach said the performance was a result of steady progress noting that the West Indies had been building towards it after showing encouraging signs in previous Test matches. But he warned that sustaining that standard would require the team to raise its game even further.
West Indies have scored seven centuries in the new ICC Test championship cycle, while their first innings total of 626 for nine declared in the first Test, marked the first time the team scored over 600 runs since 2012.
Sammy credited batting coach Floyd Reifer for the turnaround saying his contribution cannot be underestimated.
“It’s a combination of Floyd Reifer and the willingness of the players, the work ethic of the players … I have to single out Floyd Reifer for that. He gets a lot of flack when we’re not batting well. He’s been strong in his messaging, his work ethic is amazing, so I’m going to give him his flowers,” Sammy added.
(KH)
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