Holder seeks comprehensive Windies effort

Windies captain Jason Holder is calling on his troops to put in a comprehensive performance when the team takes the field against India in the second and final Test starting today at Sabina Park.

The Windies have not lost a Test series in the Caribbean in the last two years, however, Holder and his men are facing a daunting task if they are to square the series against India, having been comprehensively outplayed in the first Test in Antigua.

The number one ranked all-rounder in Test cricket said while his team has been bowling well, the batting unit needs to come up trumps if they are to get another positive result at Sabina Park.

“We definitely have to dig deeper as a batting unit for this Test match,” he said. “When we get starts, we have to carry on and try to bat three or even four sessions and wear this Indian attack down. We know that they have a very good attack, but we have to look at our game from an individual perspective, and on the flip side, we have to work as a group and build key partnerships and try and get the best out of whatever situation we are placed in.”

Jamaican opening batsman John Campbell will be playing his first International game in front of his home crowd, and the 25-year-old is relishing the opportunity.

“I am really looking forward to playing in front of my home fans,” Campbell said. “I know it’s going to be an emotional occasion, however, my aim is to give the team the best possible start and just play my game. I didn’t get a lot of runs in the first Test, however, my mission is to get the basics right and remember the good things that have worked for me.”

HOLDING ITS OWN

Meanwhile, Holder was keen to point out that the bowling unit has been holding its own and once again, he will be banking on the experienced duo of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel to lead the attack on a Sabina Park surface that has been prepared with more than the usual grass covering.

Seamer Keemo Paul, who replaced Miguel Cummings in the squad, is expected to lend excellent support to the fast bowling unit. However, the Windies may opt to go with off-spinning all-rounder Rahkeem Cornwall in place of batsman Shamarh Brooks.

In the meantime, India is likely to field the same team that won the first Test by 318 runs. However, they will mull over the idea of playing two spinners in Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who had a decent outing in the first Test.

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane says he expects the Windies to bounce back from the first Test loss, however, his team will be focusing on doing the fundamentals right.

“West Indies is a quality team,” he said. “They bat deep [and] their bowling attack is very good. We are not going to take them lightly, however, we need to focus on our strengths and improve our game as we go on.”

The second Test bowls off today at 9:30 a.m.