Though West Indies lost the Digicel One Day International Series against Pakistan 2-3, they finished on a winning note, which according to captain of the side Darren Sammy is a boost of confidence for them heading into the Test Series.
“We need obviously to keep the team’s confidence up. They should have some new players coming in and we will welcome them and look to continue doing the work we have been doing in the nets,” Sammy told reporters at yesterday’s post match press conference.
“We have been doing some good work throughout the last weeks and we are just looking to continue and take that confidence into the test series,” he added.
Windies cruised to an emphatic 10-wicket victory in the final one day match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday; a result achieved by what he said came by them playing as a team.
“We played as a team. We went out there and bowled them out cheaply then the batters went out there and got the runs so I think it was a total team effort and that’s what we have been stressing, for us to play together as a team to achieve the results we want,” Sammy noted.
The Caribbean side continuously showed improvements in the last two one-day matches which they won.
The bowling has significantly improved resulting in the team being able to take all 10 wickets yesterday while the batting has gained some measure of stability since the inclusion of senior middle order batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo.
In form batsman Lendl Simmons showed terrific restraint in yesterday’s match and played with more value for his wicket. Simmons finished as the highest run scorer of the series with 299 runs which included four fifties and a top score of 77 not out.
In the bowling department, Windies was led by leg spinner Devendra Bishoo who claimed 11 wickets in the five-match series.
“He is a great young aspiring cricketer for us,” declared Sammy.
“He said in an interview he wants to be a great West Indies cricketer and to me he has all of that in the making. From the time he came to the World Cup set up he showed that he belonged and can perform at the international level and he has been doing it continuously,” Sammy added.
The captain also remarked that Bishoo is a cool, quiet, humble guy and it is a great sign for the team in the future.
Sammy was pleased with his performance too. “When I come out to play, I always come to do my best. Today I did what I had to do but it was not only me because the early bowlers I called on delivered and that is the important thing.”
