WI must see it through

West Indies need to show more intensity if they are to challenge England.
That’s the view of wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin following the Caribbean side’s five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Lord’s.
As West Indies prepared for the second Test starting tomorrow at Trent Bridge, Ramdin called on his colleagues to display greater consistency.
“We recognize that we could have one bad session and we could lose a Test match, so we need to be more consistent,” he said.
“We may bat or bowl well [in one session], and we need to come [out again] and be on our Ps and Qs again, but sometimes we take things for granted.”
West Indies surprised some observers by carrying the match into the fifth day after scoring a creditable 345 in their second innings.
It left England with a tricky target of 191, but West Indies had put themselves under too much pressure early in the match when they managed only 243 in the first innings.
“Many people felt that we would have lost inside four days, but the guys showed character and fight,” Ramdin said.
“If we had batted a bit better in the first innings, you never know what could have happened on the last day.
“It would be amazing for us to win a Test in England. For a team with so many young players, to be able to win a Test against the No. 1 Test side, it would be fantastic.”
West Indies were joined yesterday by fiery fast bowler Tino Best, a replacement for injured pacer Shannon Gabriel, who has been ruled out of the rest of the series with a back injury.
Best is eager to make a return to international cricket and expressed delight at his call-up.
“I’ve been waiting for my opportunity to represent the West Indies again, and this is another chance to wear the ‘baggy maroon’. I’m fit and feeling quite ready. I’ve been training and working hard looking forward to this,” he said.
“I was in the team earlier this year when we played against Australia, and I gained a lot of knowledge from being in the group. I felt I fitted in quite well and I have a good idea of the work ethic and what will be required of me.” (HG)