ADELAIDE, Australia, CMC – West Indies are hoping the Adelaide Oval can signal a reversal in their fortunes, as it did during the Test series here last December.
The tourists enter the second One-Day International looking to rebound following a humbling 113-run defeat in the opening game of the five-match series in Melbourne on Sunday.
Last year, West Indies succumbed by an innings and 65 runs inside three days at the Gabba in Brisbane but rallied at Adelaide to put Australia on the ropes before the hosts scrambled to the safety of a draw.
“We remember our performance at Adelaide Oval in the Test match and we will be looking to enjoy our time here again. It is a good ground for cricket and we will be looking to have a good game,” coach David Williams said ahead of the crucial today’s one-dayer (last night, Eastern Caribbean time).
Reflecting on the Windies’ ordinary performance on Sunday, Williams said the side had been let down by their batsman after a fairly solid display with the ball. They limited Australia to 256 for eight but then collapsed meekly to finish on 143 all out off 34.2 overs.
“We did very well with our bowling. We simply did not bat well,” the former wicketkeeper/batsman pointed out.
“We got ourselves in some good position when we batted, but we just did not capitalize on the opportunities. We took some positives from the first game and we want to make sure that we win in Adelaide.”
Williams said it was important West Indies arrested their slide early in the tour, as losing a second match would leave them with a tall order in winning the series.
“It is very important that we play good cricket here in Adelaide and bounce back. We don’t want to go 0-2 down in a five-match series because that would put a lot of pressure on us,” the Trinidadian stressed.
“It is crucial that we win. We are going out there to pull one back and make sure we stay level with the Aussies. We have a good all-round team, everyone is expected to contribute.”