Head coach Daren Sammy says the West Indies are well prepared for both the pitch conditions at North Sound, Antigua, and Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy attack as the teams gear up for the first Test, which bowls off on Thursday.
Both teams head into the series looking to reverse recent fortunes in the longest format. The West Indies are winless in their last five Tests, with one draw in that run, while Sri Lanka have managed just one victory in their last five matches, alongside one draw and three defeats.
Speaking to the media during West Indies training camp, Sammy explained that the team and coaches have been hard at work.
“All hands on deck in conditions that are challenging. But for me it’s the attitude towards what they’re looking to do, bearing in mind what we could face in the first test.
“The reports from us watching as coaches and the feedback of how the training session has been, it’s really impressive,” Sammy said.
The head coach also believes West Indies’ specific preparations to face spin should bear fruit.
“I think we’ve trained specifically to look at the conditions we may face. You know, what we expect here in Antigua and what we have to do in order to match the Sri Lankan skill set and get the better of them.
“We’ve looked at the surface and we have a fair idea of how it’s going to play. All our preparation has been tailored towards that,” Sammy revealed.
He also reflected on West Indies’ recent fortunes in the format.
“Test cricket for us over the first six test matches in this test championship, you know, is batting for long periods and not losing so many wickets in the session. Sometimes we’re going good and the ability to not let the bowling get into our batting lineup when someone is bowling a good spell, these are areas that we focus on,” Sammy said.
Hinting at the challenges facing the team’s batting unit, Sammy was adamant that they can be overcome.
“Just put a price on your wicket to bat long, it’s not a sprint, more like a marathon, and your true character will be tested in all formats of the game. That’s what we’ve been preaching,” he said.
Ahead of the first test, Joshua Da Silva and Amir Jangoo have earned recalls to West Indies’ 15-member squad for the two-match series, while pacers Alzarri and Shamar Joseph both return following absences due to injuries.
Sammy is happy with the fifteen players at his disposal.
“Obviously, we had a shortened first-class season. Some guys put their hands up and scored some runs. However, with the players and the team that we’re playing against, I think we’ve selected the best possible squad for us.
“For me, I’m really happy to have my four-pronged pace attack back in Shamar, the two Josephs and Jaden; they’ve been really good for us over the last two years and we missed them in the back end of last season. So to have them back and the experience of Roach back into the side, that’s a real plus for us,” he added.
(KH)
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