Kingston, Jamaica – The stage is set for what promises to be an action-packed three-match Digicel Test Series between West Indies and India. Excitement is building as the two sides prepare for the start on Monday at Sabina Park.
First ball is 10 am (11 am Eastern Caribbean Time).
The Windies went through their paces in the nets at Sabina Park on a hot Sunday morning and after the three-hour session, skipper Darren Sammy said his team has "the fighting spirit and belief" that they can topple the visitors.
In the Digicel Pearls ODI Series, which ended last Thursday, the Windies trailed 0-3 at one stage, but rebounded to win the last two matches and will take that momentum into the Digicel Test matches.
"The guys have gone about their business – not only for this Test match, but the entire series – in a very professional way for the cause of representing the West Indies team," Sammy said.
"The fighting spirit has been evident in the team throughout the ODI Series, and we will look to take that into the Tests. We are motivated and ready to face up to the Indians. We believe we can go out there and win the Test match. It is very important that we start well. We started well against Pakistan and we will look to do a similar thing here and take that momentum into the following two matches," Sammy said.
The captain is also confident his batsmen will play well, after he was asked about the younger members of the batting unit.
"I am expecting a good showing from our batsmen. We have some guys who might not have played a lot of Test matches but they are really good players. Barath is a very promising cricketer. He scored a hundred in his first Test. He is coming back from injury but we all know his mental strength. He has the mental capability to carry on with his starts," Sammy said.
"Young Darren Bravo came to form in the last ODI. He made a great start to his career when we were in Sri Lanka last year and he will be looking to get back that kind of form. Simmons is in good nick. He has been playing First Class cricket for several years now. He knows his game and executes his plans. The top order might be short of experience but they have the game to do it."
The 27-year-old Sammy, who took over the job last October, believes the pitch at Sabina Park will help the West Indies faster bowlers and the captain backed is bowling unit to make the most of it.
"It’s been the pitch that suits our style. We managed to restrict India in the last ODI and the batsmen found it somewhat easy to chase down the total and win the match. In Test cricket, you need to have lots of runs, wickets, and patience. Hopefully, we would do it, and come out victorious."
WINDIES TEST SQUAD
Darren Sammy – Captain
Brendan Nash – Vice Captain
Adrian Barath
Carlton Baugh
Devendra Bishoo
Darren Bravo
Shivnarine Chanderpaul
Fidel Edwards
Ravi Rampaul
Kemar Roach
Marlon Samuels
Ramnaresh Sarwan
Lendl Simmons