PORT OF SPAIN – West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin says there could be changes to the line-up for the second test match against New Zealand which starts at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on Monday. West Indies suffered a crushing 186-run defeat to New Zealand inside four days in the opening Test at Sabina Park.
“We are meeting this afternoon to pick the squad for the second Test in Trinidad and there may be one or two changes to the team,” Ramdin said in an interview with Trinidad media yesterday.
“Over the past few series this has been happening with both the senior and young batsmen not coming up with runs”.
There is speculation here that Barbadian opener Kraigg Brathwaite could find himself slotting into the openers’ roles in place of Keiran Powell, while allrounder Dwayne Bravo may be back to replace Kirk Edwards.
“When you are chasing 500 runs plus and you get bowled out for 262 in your first innings it is always going to be difficult coming back from that,” said Ramdin.
“The toss at Sabina was crucial. they had really great conditions to bat in and we were hoping to have first strike, so that our spinners could have prospered later in the match.”
West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has blamed the batsmen for the loss describing the two innings as “bitterly disappointing” after they scored 262 and 216 with only two top-order batsmen making 50s.
“The batsmen just have to remain confident. Shivnarine Chanderpaul is making runs, Gayle got a start here and I myself got a start in the first innings and looked good in the second innings, but did not carry on,” the new West Indies captain said.
“The young batsmen just have to keep positive, Marlon got a century in the warm-up matches, so did Darren Bravo, and we are hoping that these guys stay confident and go out there and get the runs.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s skipper Brendan McCullum couldn’t be happier after what he called a perfect Test.
The 186-run victory was New Zealand’s first in the Caribbean since the 2002 Barbados Test, and it was set up by their first 500-plus total away from home in more than eight years.
McCullum said he was particularly pleased with the way his men absorbed the pressure that built at times from the West Indians, including on the second morning, when they stumbled to 279 for 5 with the fall of McCullum’s wicket. Jimmy Neesham’s century and BJ Watling’s 89 ensured a hefty first-innings total of 508 for 7, and in turning conditions that gave Craig and Ish Sodhi plenty to work with. (CMC)
