Cricketing legend and former West Indies captain, Sir Vivian Richards, is hoping for a balanced pitch when the regional squad hosts India in the first of a four Test series here at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground starting Thursday. In doing so, skipper Virat Kohli will aim to complete a hat trick of Test series wins in the Caribbean, after Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni led their sides to victory in 2007 and 2011, respectively. We will play with five bowlers. You can’t count out a guy like Shikhar because of a couple of innings here and there.
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The Test will see India playing their first ever worldwide game at the venue, and Sir Viv said he was hoping for a big turnout. It was the first Test of the series against Australia and playing for a draw would not have met with any surprises.
The trip was seen as a learning experience, with captain MS Dhoni making his mark on the new players and getting them acclimated to the worldwide team they may one day lead. India had needed 86 runs from 15 overs with seven wickets in hand and Dhoni made a decision to play for a draw and keep the 1-0 series lead.
– India are looking to win a third consecutive away Test match for the first time since 2005.
“We are focusing at changing the mindset of batsmen in terms of coming from shorter format into a longer format and the batting time as it is important to bat for a longer duration”, said Kumble, who played 132 Test matches, in his career. “Even the bowlers have to bowl very disciplined line and lengths here and be patient here”.
“We need to look to spend long periods at the crease so we are preaching that in the dressing room”. India were far from impressive in their last two-day warm-up game as their pace battery struggled with their inconsistent show and it will be the last chance for Kumble’s boys to make an impression.
Captain Kohli said he was excited about the prospect of a fit-again Mohammed Shami, who has been sidelined by knee and hamstring problems at different stages over the past 18 months. That was his debut Test series. Added to that West Indies not being a formidable side in Tests, conditions are more than ideal for India to take it’s T20 world cup revenge.
Famed for his unrestrained attacking instincts in all forms of the game, the left-handed opening batsman displayed admirable restraint against bowling that lacked any real pace and potency, with the notable exception of Shannon Gabriel. We will have to cut out some shots initially, and after that when you get used to the conditions, you will play your shots. We tend to bored at times when we go out there in the Test match. “We stand a much better chance taking the psychological part of it out of it”.
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Led by the ambitious and aggressive Virat Kohli, and under new coach Anil Kumble, who is as aggressive and ambitious as Kohli is, the Indians will want to grab the series by the scruff of its neck as early as possible.
