BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Captain Darren Sammy says an improved performance from his batsmen and bowlers will be needed if West Indies are to arrest their losing slide against Pakistan when the third One-Day International bowls off here today.
The regional side will be looking for a victory to stay alive in the series, after losing the double-header in St Lucia last week to fall behind 0-2 in the five-match series.
“We’ve reviewed that last two games and we have identified the areas where we need to improve especially with the dot-ball percentage. In both matches you had over 50 per cent … so that’s an area that we definitely have to improve on,” Sammy told reporters here yesterday.
“The batsmen are aware of that and I know that with the help of Dessie (Desmond Haynes) showing them different ways in which to counteract the spin, I’m confident we will see a better display or some more intent, whether running between the wickets, shot selection and things like that.”
In both matches last weekend at the Beausejour Cricket Ground, West Indies failed to mount significant totals, gathering 221 in the first game and 220 in the second.
The hosts have managed just two half-centuries, with stylish left-hander Darren Bravo stroking a slow 67 in the first game while Lendl Simmons scored an attractive 51 in the last encounter.
West Indies have been bogged down by off-spinners Saeed Ajmal and Mohammed Hafeez, who have undermined the batting on both occasions.
Behind these moderate batting displays, Pakistan easily overhauled their targets, marching to an eight-wicket victory in the first encounter and a seven-wicket triumph on Monday.
Sammy said his bowlers were well aware of the need to put more pressure on the Pakistani batsmen.
“Every bowler in order to get wickets you have to be at least consistent in your line and length although we had an improved performance in the second game we still didn’t bowl balls in consistent areas to get that wicket,” Sammy explained.
“That is something as a team we are aware of. We have to take wickets, whether with the new ball or at other intervals of the game.”
Sammy will lead an unchanged 13-man squad into the game, as selectors have opted to remain with the new-look squad devoid of the experience of key players.
Batsman Chris Gayle, fast bowler Jerome Taylor and Kieron Pollard are all campaigning in the Indian Premier League while Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul have been overlooked.
There still has been no room for fast bowler Fidel Edwards or left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn but Sammy said he was confident the current young squad would eventually come good.
“The selectors came up with the team to represent us in the series and so far we have managed to score 220 in both games and you can see the batsmen care capable of doing the job,” Sammy said.
“I have full confidence in the guys who are representing West Indies now to go out there and do the job. Obviously experience counts but we are in a rebuilding stage right now and we have confidence in the guys we have right now.”
He added: “It is an opportunity for the guys to go out there and showcase what they are made of. Every individual has to go out there and grab it (the opportunity) and make the best out of the situation.”
Pakistan, confidently led by Shahid Afridi meanwhile, will be looking to wrap up the series with a win today.
Ajmal and Hafeez are expected to feature prominently in the attack again while Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad Asad Shafiq, Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal will back themselves to take charge of what has been listless Windies bowling to date.
Yesterday’s match is the first of a doubleheader at Kensington Oval, with the second match scheduled for Monday.
The final game of the series will be played in Guyana next week.
SQUADS:
WEST INDIES – Darren Sammy (captain), Dwayne Bravo (vice captain), Carlton Baugh Jr, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Anthony Martin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith
PAKISTAN – Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq (vice captain), Abdur Rehman, Ahmed Shahzad, Asad Shafiq, Hammad Azman, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Salman, Sadaf Hussain, Saeed Ajmal, Tanveer Ahmed, Taufeeq Umar, Umar Akmal, Usman Salahuddin, Wahab Riaz