He has so far scored five test centuries and all-rounder Roston Chase will be looking to register his sixth Test when the West Indies take on England in a three-match series next month.
Speaking to the media on the West Indies’ daily virtual conference, the 26-year-old revealed that it is one of his goals to score a ton in England.
“I always want to score a century in England,” he said on the zoom teleconference.
“I scored a century against England in the Caribbean but I would love to get one in England,” he added.
He feels scoring a century in England will allow for him to be taken a bit more seriously as a batsman.
“As I said once you score hundreds in England as a batsman I think you’re taken a bit more seriously and rated a bit higher when you do well in England, so I would like to get a century in England but I am just looking to have a good series with the bat and score as much runs as possible,” he stated.
Chase, who indicated that the bowling department is the strength of the Caribbean unit said that Chase posting a good first innings total would be critical to setting up the match for a win.
“I think winning the series, the key would be to get a good first innings total. I think the first innings is going to be very important because once you get a good first innings total it’s always pressure on the other team to come and back that up.
He went on: “As you know our bowling is our strength so once we can get a good target for the bowlers to look after I think we will be in a good position to dominate like we did in the Caribbean.”
Although he admitted that the top order has not had the best series in recent times Chase said that he was backing his side to step up and produce.
“It is fair to say we haven’t had the best time as a top order. I think some of the guys have played 30 or more test matches so the guys have that experience and know how to get runs at this level.
“We are ever improving, so it is just to get that confidence and belief back in our batting and in the top order and I think we will be fine because the guys know they have the ability.
Chase said there was little question about the ability of some of the batsmen in the side.
“Some guys have centuries so it’s clear they can perform at this level, so it is just about getting that mindset right and backing your ability and going out there and do it,” he declared.
Having experienced playing in English conditions, Chase suggested that getting side on was a key requirement for the batsmen.
“In English conditions as a batsman the main focus for you is try to play the ball as late as possible with the moving ball but still look to get weight into the ball.
“Not only in English conditions I think you have to do that in any conditions. I think you have to do that to get your weight into the ball but for England I think you have to stay more side on as a batsman.”
With batting a concern for many including head coach, Phil Simmons, the likes of Jason Holder, Rahkeem Cornwall and Raymon Reifer all capable all-rounders and Chase reckoned that there would be no added pressure on them since they always want to do well.
“I wouldn’t say it is added pressure but you always think about doing well so I think the three of us guys will always be looking to do well so it is just for us to go out there and do what we have to do. Hopefully, we can get some runs from the top order and it would be easier for us coming in with some runs on the table but if we have to go out there under pressure and work for what we want, I think the guys are all capable of going out there and handling that pressure and coming out on top of the situation,” he posited.
Chase said he was comfortable with batting in the middle-order.
“I am comfortable with the role I play batting in the middle order and bowling some overs when need be.
“The unit is a close knitted unit. The guys are friends, we came up playing cricket in youth cricket days, everyone is our friend and we are comfortable and we just like to enjoy our company together just enjoy the cricket and look to be successful.”
Although he is an off-spinning option alongside Cornwall, the Bajan all-rounder dismissed any thoughts of the two competing against each other but rather noted he was happy to play either the lead or supporting role.
“He [Cornwall] is definitely the number one spinner but I have no problem with that I am always willing to do whatever it takes for the team if I have to back him up or if I have to be the main spinner it doesn’t really matter to me once we’re going in the right direction and winning cricket games and series that’s all that matters to me. Doesn’t matter if I am number one or number two or number three just go out there to do well for the country and myself,” Chase said.
He also confirmed that the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected his teammates’ training but rallied around their upcoming two practice matches to gain form.
“We have two practice games before we go in to the actual series. I think we have to take those matches as seriously as possible because that’s the only preparation outside the training we have been doing. The guys have been training hard. We came to the conclusion that we have to do a lot of extra work because of the COVID. The guys haven’t been really been able to go about their normal routines as usual so we have been putting in the hard work, hopefully we have good weather and get some good match practice,” he reasoned.
