BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin has urged his West Indies teammates to capitalise on the batting-friendly Warner Park ground, and haul the regional side back into contention in the Tri-Nations Series.
West Indies opened the tournament with a four-wicket win over South Africa but then succumbed to a six-wicket defeat to World champions Australia in their second game, as all three teams came away from the Guyana leg with a similar 1-1 record.
However, batsmen from all three sides struggled on the low, slow surface at the Guyana National Stadium and Ramdin said Warner Park presented the ideal opportunity for redemption.
“It was still good to get a result down there on our part in terms of winning one. We know it was slow and it’s a pitch that could frustrate batsmen, and it’s also bowling friendly,” Ramdin explained.
“It is very important that we bat well here in St Kitts. All of the teams have won one so we need to put up a good show here. We have the firepower in the batting department, we just need a good start at the top of the order. The guys have been working hard but they didn’t get the starts in Guyana.”
He added: “The bowlers have been doing a good job and it is very important we believe in ourselves, believe in our skills and go out and execute that nicely in the next few days.”
West Indies chased down 189 to beat South Africa but then folded for 116 batting first against the Aussies, in a disappointing batting performance.
Ramdin, promoted to number five in the current series, scored just 10 and 12 in his two innings but still backed himself to deliver up the order.
“I think I am quite happy batting at number five. In the last series against Bangladesh in the Caribbean I batted at four,” he pointed out.
“I relish that opportunity. There are a lot of overs for me to go out there and express myself, get set and bat as deep down as possible.
“I didn’t get the starts in Guyana but having said that. I’m still confident enough to go out there and do it. The likes of Pollard, Carlos Brathwaite, those guys are good power-hitters on the small ground of the Caribbean that we have, and it augurs well with me to bat with those guys down in the end.”
West Indies clash with Australia today and with South Africa two days later, all games Ramdin expects to be high-scoring affairs.
“I think it is going to be a high-scoring ground. It’s a small ground, a very good pitch for batting and not much room for error on the bowler’s part. It’s going to be [some] high-scoring games throughout the next couple games here.”
