The third Test begins on August 9. It represents the first time that India has played a cricket match in the US.
Advertisement
Empty stands have greeted players during the ongoing India-West Indies Test series in the Caribbean.
Their unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 108 occupied nearly 41 overs and rescued the tourists from the considerable discomfort of 126 for five just before tea with West Indies’ second Test hero Roston Chase and debutant fast bowler Alzarri Joseph taking two wickets each to vindicate their captain’s decision to bowl first on winning the toss. The bowlers will need the same discipline as they showed in Jamaica, the lower middle order will have to show the same application.
“If you look back at the last two Test matches, the problem is that top order haven’t been getting in”.
As such, with the tendency of Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav to sometimes bowl short and wide, Virat Kohli will be tempted to bring in Ravindra Jadeja. Chances kept coming for the West Indies, and the biggest miss was in the 63rd over, when Ashwin was caught at point off Shannon Gabriel (1-68), but got a reprieve as the bowler had stepped on the side-crease and it was deemed a no ball.
The hosts enter the game in a buoyant mood, stemming from their fighting performance on the final day of the second Test at Sabina Park last week, which saw them secure a draw after defeat seemed a certainty.
We’re five minutes away from the toss in St. Lucia.
Perhaps the only matter worth pondering over is about the fitness of Murali Vijay. Ahead of the third Test, the pacer, who has taken eight wickets in the series, stated that he has started from where he had left off. Dowrich had scored 74 runs while Holder was unbeaten on 64. If we had even 10-15% more assistance from that pitch on day five, given the same situation, we would have come out on top.
Rain is forecast on the first four days of the Test so several interruptions during the course of the game could be the pattern. “But the lesson is that we shouldn’t doubt our ability going forward”.
“I would love for more people to watch cricket. So the rhythm is better on return and you are able to make more effort”, the Bengal pacer added.
“As a fast bowler, you get a little more time [between spells], because it’s important to get time to rest after bowling your spell of four or five overs”.
Advertisement
His father Arvind, who has seen the 28-year-old’s career wax and wane as his coach, blamed lack of competitive cricket for his son’s predicament.
