MUMBAI – West Indies captain Darren Sammy said his side could resist the groundswell of sentiment that would accompany the second Test against India, and find redemption with a victory. The Test started last night in Sachin Tendulkar’s home town.
The match has been transformed into the great farewell for India’s star batsman Tendulkar, who will be playing an unprecedented 200th and final Test for his homeland on familiar territory at the Wankhede Stadium and the emotions will be high among his fans, hoping for a final glimpse of his mastery.
The Windies trail 0-1 in the two-Test series, following an innings and 51-run defeat inside three days in the first Test that ended last Friday at Eden Gardens in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.
But Sammy said his side’s objective was clear – earn a series-levelling victory that would invariably spoil Tendulkar’s retirement party and prove against the No. 3 Test side in the world that No. 6 West Indies were a side moving in the upward direction in the world rankings.
Apart from Tendulkar, veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is set to become the first West Indies player to appear in 150 Tests, becoming only the seventh player to achieve the landmark.
Chanderpaul, aged 39, made his Test debut 19 years ago on home soil at Bourda Oval in the Guyana capital of Georgetown. He was the 204th player to wear the maroon cap of the Windies.
Sammy said it was an honour to play alongside “Tiger”, as he is universally affectionately known.
“He is really ‘the lion’ of this team and has carried our batting for a number of years now,” said Sammy. “He helps out the younger players like Kieran Powell and Darren Bravo and they can take inspiration from a player like him.
“The great thing about him is his approach to batting. From the time I came into the team, his methods of preparation have always been the same. He spends hours batting in the nets. He will be the first one in and usually the last one out – and it shows in the way he goes about his business.
“As a young player, if you want to display that mental toughness, Chanderpaul is the perfect role model for that. Hopefully, he will be around the dressing room for a little while longer. He still looks in good physical shape and he is still playing well.” (BA/WICB)
