BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC-West Indies plan to extend their unbeaten run in test to six consecutive wins when they meet Zimbabwe here today in the first of two test matches that wrap up their Caribbean tour.
West Indies are currently on a four-Test winning streak, having last won five Tests in a row back in the late 80s, when they were still the reigning kings of world cricket.
The caribbean side is currently ranked number seven in the ICC test rankings while Zimbabwe is currently unranked, as it has played insufficient matches.
“This series doesn’t really post many points to us but we have Pakistan later down in the year and it would be a very important season for us in terms of points,” said Sammy.
“We are now just focusing on Zimbabwe and we have two test matches and we are looking to extend the run we have had in winning test matches and we believe we could go out there and do that”.
The inclusion of Marlon Samuels and Chris Gayle have boosted the squad ahead of the first test at the usually pacy pitch at Kensington Oval. All-rounder Samuels is returning after a two-month injury lay-off while Gayle is coming back in the squad after being rested for the ODIs and the T20s.
A number of big names have also been omitted from the squad for the first test including off-spinner Sunil Narine, Middle order batsman Rannaresh Sarwan and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.
“It is always good when you have that kind of competition, giving the selectors a head ache to pick squads but the team has won four in a row so the guys have been doing well and we are all backing them to go out there and continue that job,” said the West Indies captain.
“You know its thirteen guys that could be selected on the squad so we will back them and we will go out there and try our best”.
Zimbabwe held their own during the warm-up game against Sagicor High Performance Centre, with Hamilton Maskadza scoring a century and Vusi Sibanda 80.
However the odds are against them.
