Sammy's formula for success: Don't drop Rahul Dravid again

Kingston (Jamaica): "Don't drop Rahul Dravid again" -- that is not just Darren Sammy's personal goal, it is part of a three-step formula that the guilt-ridden West Indies cricket captain has in mind to bounce back from the opening Test loss to India.

"Don't drop Rahul Dravid again" -- that is not just Darren Sammy's personal goal, it is part of a three-step formula that the guilt-ridden West Indies cricket captain has in mind to bounce back from the opening Test loss to India. © AFP

West Indies lost the opening Test by 63 runs in under four days to India. During the match, Sammy dropped Dravid when the Indian had a mere six runs in his account and the West Indies had the visitors on a tight leash.
The dropped catch proved decisive as Dravid went on to strike his 32nd Test hundred with a 112-run knock that gave India the upper hand and eventually the match.
Sammy, already drawing flak for his poor personal performance, confessed to spending a sleepless night after dropping the catch and it seems it is still haunting him.
"Correct the batting and I don't drop (Rahul) Dravid again, and we shouldn't be under pressure to win the next Test," the pacer was quoted as saying by 'Trinidad Express'.
The second Test of the three-match series is scheduled from June 28 in Bridgetown, Barbados.

PTI

Preview: India aim clean sweep, Windies to play for pride

Antigua: An unbeatable 3-0 lead in hand, India would now aim for a clean sweep while trying out new players when they take on a demoralised West Indies in the inconsequential fourth game of their five-match one-day international series on Monday.

Led by Suresh Raina, the second-string Indian team has given a good account of itself dominating the struggling Caribbean side. © AFP

Led by Suresh Raina, the second-string Indian team has given a good account of itself dominating the struggling Caribbean side, which has been weakened further by the absence of big-hitting Chris Gayle and reliable performers such as Dwayne Bravo.
In fact, the series has done a world of good to young Indian players such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Raina himself.
They have proved themselves as fighters when faced with tense situations, prompting coach Duncan Fletcher to state that the given the pool of talent, his wards are set to dominate world cricket for another decade or so.
"It is due to the amount of talent India have. Indian cricket is in a very, very healthy state presently," stated Fletcher after India clinched the series with a three-wicket win on Saturday.
Right-handed batsman Manoj Tiwary might get a look in after Raina hinted that reserve players are likely to be fielded for the remaining two matches.
But bowling would certainly be an area of concern for the Indians.
Without the ever-reliable Zaheer Khan, who won't be available even for the Test series due to injury, the pacers led by Munaf Patel have struggled as was evident from the way West Indian number nine Andre Russell took them to the cleaners yesterday.
In contrast, the spinners - Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra - have exploited the conditions to their advantage.
The duo have more than made up the struggle by the pacers and either of the two might be rested to make way for promising off-spinner R Ashwin in the dead rubbers.
For the West Indies, it is about regaining the pride which lies in tatters after three demoralising losses.
Captain Darren Sammy has struggled to explain just why his players are finding it tough in home conditions against an opposition which is without its top stars.
He has been vocal in his criticism of the apparent lack of application by his players.
Sammy blamed the lack of "killer instinct" as one of the reasons for the team not being able to win.
He admitted that the batsmen haven't been performing upto the mark and he expected a bit more from fast bowler Kemar Roach.
"We have not been getting runs at the top. We just lacked the finishing touch. About our bowling, Kemar is one of our strike bowlers and we needed a bit extra from him. But I can't fault anyone, he has been doing a good job over the past months. If you put the ball in the right areas, you could reap rewards on this wicket."
What is heartening for the West Indies is the inspiring knock by Russell. A hurricane unbeaten 92 by a number nine batsman is just the kind of inspiration the host batsmen need to strike it big in the remaining two matches and make the final scoreline more respectable.

PTI

We failed to maintain pressure on India: Russell

Antigua: It was the biggest knock of his nascent international career but far from celebrating, young West Indies pacer Andre Russell was a disappointed man as his hurricane 92 failed to fetch his side a win in the third one-dayer against India on Saturday.

It was the biggest knock of his nascent international career but far from celebrating, young West Indies pacer Andre Russell was a disappointed man as his hurricane 92 failed to fetch his side a win. © AFP

Russell got a Man of the Match award in only his sixth one-day international but rued the missed opportunities in Saturday's three-wicket loss which gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
"We couldn't keep pressure on Harbhajan Singh. You needed to bowl him in areas to keep him under pressure. Unfortunately we couldn't do so," remarked Russell after Harbhajan (41) and Rohit Sharma (86 not out) forged a match-winning stand of 88 runs for the seventh wicket.
But much before that, the 23-year-old Russell, who has the potential to be a bowling all-rounder for West Indies, had done magnificent job to lift his side from 96 for seven to 225 for eight with an unbeaten 92 off a mere 65 balls.
His blazing knock comprised eight fours and five sixes, one of which cleared the huge ground completely.
"One more over and it could have been 100. I am always in a positive frame of mind. I knew if we get set, we could build a stand," he said.
Russell and Carlton Baugh (36) put on 78 runs for the eighth wicket for West Indies after they were reduced to 96 for 7.
"This knock is very important as it came against a top side like India. I got my opportunity and grabbed it," said Russell who wasn't picked in the eleven for first two one-day internationals.
"I got a lot of time to settle myself in. I stuck to the task. As always, I was positive," added Russell, who once hit 108 off 65 balls against Ireland, playing for a Jamaica side.
Russell termed it a good toss to win as the wicket became easier to bat later on in the day.
"A total of 250-280 would have made things difficult for them. We needed 30 more runs," he said.
Russell once represented Jamaica in under-17 football as a goalkeeper.
He has also been a good 100m sprinter. He was picked out of blue by West Indian coach Ottis Gibson, who was very impressed by his domination of club cricket in Jamaica.
Meanwhile, a disappointed West Indies captain Darren Sammy blamed the lack of "killer instinct" as one of the reasons for the team not being able to win despite reducing India to 92 for six.
"It is a game that got away from us. Russell brought us back along with Baugh. Our guys were confident during lunch, but we lacked the killer instinct after taking early wickets," Sammy stated.
He admitted that the batsmen haven't been performing upto the mark and he expected a bit more from fast bowler Kemar Roach.
"We have not been getting runs at the top. We just lacked the finishing touch. About our bowling, Kemar is one of our strike bowlers and we needed a bit extra from him. But I can't fault anyone, he has been doing a good job over the past months. If you put the ball in the right areas, you could reap rewards on this wicket."
PTI

WI finally get a bouncy track for 5th ODI

Antigua: West Indies will finally have their wish granted when they would get to play on the hard and bouncy pitch in the fifth and the final One-day International at Sabina Park, Jamaica on Thursday.

Reports from Jamaica suggest that a tough batting surface awaits the two teams, something which the West Indian captain Darren Sammy has been yearning for throughout the series. © AFP

Reports from Jamaica suggest that a tough batting surface awaits the two teams, something which the West Indian captain Darren Sammy has been yearning for throughout the series.
It has, however come too late for the hosts who are facing a threat of a clean sweep by the Indians on their own home soil. India lead the five-match ODI series 3-0.
Chief curator Charles Josephs said that the pitch will have more bounce and pace than what has been seen in the series so far.
"I expect us to have a wicket that bounces more than the ones that we have seen in the eastern Caribbean," said Joseph, who has been curator at this venue since 1962.
This venue is prone to heavy showers but Joseph is confident that he would get the track of his liking.
"We have always dedicated ourselves to producing hard, true pitches that are good for both batsmen and bowlers alike, and despite losing a couple days due to rain, I expect us to meet our aim," he said.
Sammy has been quite vocal in his criticism about the wickets for keeping low and slow in the series so far. He made the same points while playing against Pakistan where tracks in Guyana and St. Kitts in two Tests were no better.
"We had the same experience against Pakistan and even then the pitches supported them," Sammy had lamented after the one-off Twenty20 against India in Trinidad on June 4.
"It's a home series, but it feels like...the pitches are out of our control. We can only ask for what we want, but it's up to the groundsman to prepare it. Our coach Ottis Gibson has written to the authorities about it but to no avail," he had further stated.
Sammy's remarks came against the backdrop of a Twenty20 World Cup match between these two teams in Kensington Oval, Barbados last year when West Indies singed India with short-pitched bowling.
Sammy had demanded something similar in the present series but his request wasn't granted.
"We have requested for bouncy pitches but as I said, we don't prepare the pitches. The pitches in the present series so far has suited the spinners and it has played straight into the hands of Indians who have some world class tweakers in the ranks," he said.
The final One-day International will be one of the two matches scheduled at Sabina Park during the series.
While the two teams take each other on Thursday to bring the lid on the One-day series, they would clash in the opening Test at the same venue on June 20.
PTI

Preview: India look to seal the series against Gayle-less Windies

Antigua: With a formidable lead in hand, a sprightly India would be aiming to seal the series when it takes on a depleted and low-on-confidence West Indies in the third one-dayer of a five-match series on Saturday.

Dwayne Bravo would be missing the the third tie because he has requested, and was granted, for a break. © AFP

In what would be good news for the Indian camp, West Indies appear to have mortally wounded themselves by leaving out the explosive Chris Gayle yet again because of his ongoing feud with the Cricket Board.
Down 0-2 and with the series on line, West Indies selectors have also gone ahead and rested Dwayne Bravo and Ravi Rampaul.
Gayle is apparently incommunicado even though his tweets are appearing by the hours.
The WICB's decision to hold back the announcement of the team for the fourth one-day international on Monday would, however, suggest they are keen for this deadlock to break.
Bravo and Rampaul are missing because the former has requested for a break and was granted while the latter is suffering from the ill-effects of a heavy workload.
It is ironic that while the young Indians are clamouring for more games and more pressure, the West Indian players are seeking breaks at such a crucial juncture in the series.
Be that as it may, it leaves a mediocre West Indies squad even more depleted.
On paper, West Indies have two tearaway fast bowlers in the returning Kemar Roach and Andre Russell but the batting friendly conditions could make them ineffective against a rampant young Indian side.
Batting has been the decisive factor at this Caribbean ground where 300 runs is a norm and frontline bowlers are known to go in excess of 50 runs from their 10 overs.
West Indies, to top it, have never won any of their four games at this venue after being clobbered for 158 runs by Australian Matthew Hayden in a 2007 World Cup game.
Not only the cricket team but even infrastructure-wise, West Indies is facing huge embarrassment.
The ground staff of Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad allowed the square to be so sodden by a passing shower that 13 overs were lopped off from the second one-day international on Wednesday.
The local fans are also keeping their fingers crossed as the last Test against England in 2009 at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here was abandoned after umpires ruled the ground unfit to play due to sandy outfield. In all, only 10 balls were bowled in that match.
But all this set aside, the Indians have mastered the conditions pretty well and practically all batsmen, barring Yusuf Pathan, have had a decent hit in the middle.
If the clinical wins in the first two ODIs were any indication, the Indians have coped with the absence of seniors such as Sachin Tendulkar and regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni pretty well.
The visitors can't wait for the game to start as they are likely to get value for the shots, which wasn't the case on an extremely sluggish surface in Trinidad.
Interestingly, spinners haven't had much purchase at this venue. It is another thing though that the hosts may still not come to terms with India's slow men.
The reputation of Harbhajan Singh and the class of Amit Mishra is presently proving too much for them.
Indian batsmen are doing the task competently but given the rank amateurishness of this West Indies team, their job has only been simplified.
Teams (from):
West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Kirk Edwards, Danza Hyatt, Kemar Roach, Anthony Martin, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Lendl Simmons.
India: Suresh Raina (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, S Badrinath, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel and Ishant Sharma.

PTI

Zaheer, Sreesanth ruled out of Windies Test series

New Delhi: India suffered a twin blow ahead of their Test series against the West Indies later this month with speedsters Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth being ruled out of the squad due to injuries.

India suffered a twin blow ahead of their Test series against the West Indies later this month with speedsters Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth being ruled out of the squad due to injuries. © AFP

Zaheer and Sreesanth were named in the 16-member Indian squad for the Test series starting June 20 in Kingston but will now not be able to travel to the Caribbean as they need time for rehabilitation.
Zaheer has a right ankle problem while Sreesanth is suffering from an elbow injury on his bowling hand. Abhimanyu Mithun and Praveen Kumar have been named in place of the injured duo for the three-match series that ends on July 10.
"Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth have been ruled out of the forthcoming Test series against the West Indies. Zaheer has a right ankle problem, and Sreesanth has a right elbow problem. Both players will require some time off for rehabilitation," a media release from the Indian Cricket Board said.
The BCCI, however, did not mention the time the duo will need to recover from their injuries. After the West Indies series, India will embark on a full tour of England next month with a four-match Test series starting on July 21.
The ruling out of Zaheer and Sreesanth for West Indies tour will further weaken the squad as Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh had already been left out due to injuries, while Sachin Tendulkar has opted out of the series.
Zaheer was rested from the ongoing five-match ODI series against the West Indies while Sreesanth was not picked. Both played in the IPL after the grueling World Cup.
Injury to the two speedsters could once again ignite the club versus country debate as the likes of Sehwag and Gambhir played in the IPL despite injuries.
Zaheer's long-standing trysts with injuries have caused the seamer to regularly miss matches.
While a shoulder injury made him miss India's tour of Sri Lanka last year, he was forced to sit out of Tests against New Zealand and South Africa due to groin and hamstring strains prior to the World Cup.
Zaheer, who played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL often looked jaded and was a far cry from the bowler he was during the World Cup in which he finished with a record equalling 21 wickets.
Sreesanth too has been struggling with injuries, returning home last year from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka after damaging his thigh and knee.
PTI
 

Batsmen must take more responsibility: Sammy

Port of Spain: The West Indies skipper Darren Sammy blasted his batsmen for not taking responsibility after his side slipped to 0-2 deficit in the five-match ODI series against India on Wednesday.

West Indies lost six wickets for just 54 runs between the 34th and the 49th over. © AFP

"We were in a good position to capitalise. We had two set batsmen at 192 for 3. But then they were dismissed in quick succession. We should have made 270-odd runs," said Sammy.
West Indies went into a complete disarray in their final nine overs. After Ramnaresh Sarwan (56) and Lendl Simmons (53) cracked individual half-centuries up the order, the Windies middle-order crumbled, slipping from 175 for three in 34 overs to 229 for nine in 48.5 overs.
"The batsmen need to take more responsibility and bat through to the end. Someone should have done what (Virat) Kohli did for India," he said.
Defending spinner Devendra Bishoo, who was slightly off-colour on Wednesday, Sammy said, "He is very young and played in every match since the World Cup. There would be days when he would be off colour."
The captain also rued that his team failed to apply pressure after claiming an early Indian wicket in the form of Shikhar Dhawan.
He, however, said that there are a few positives, especially the way Marlon Samuels is coming along and the fact that there is more intent from the batsmen to play less dot balls and have a positive approach against the spinners.
"Samuels has begun to show a lot of consistency. He could do what Michael Bevan used to do, be a good finisher."
Heaping praise on the Indian leg-spinner Amit Mishra, Sammy said, "He has been posing the most problems for us. We would look at his footage and try to find an answer. It has been very difficult to come to terms with him."

PTI

India beat West Indies by 7 wickets via D/L

Port of Spain: India produced a disciplined all-round performance to notch up a convincing seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in a rain-affected second one-day international and also take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series on Wednesday.

Virat Kohli (81) played a stellar hand in first partnering opener Parthiv Patel (56) for 120-run second wicket stand and then withstanding the little tremor induced by the rain breaks. © AFP

Virat Kohli (81) played a stellar hand in first partnering opener Parthiv Patel (56) for 120-run second wicket stand and then withstanding the little tremor induced by the rain breaks.
Chasing 241 to win, India were 100 for one in 22 overs when a sharp passing shower made the square unfit to play for 85 minutes. The rain break reduced the visitors innings to 37 overs and the target was revised to 183, implying they needed 83 runs from 90 deliveries.
India achieved the target comfortably losing the wickets of Parthiv Patel (56) and Virat Kohli (81) in 33.4 overs.
Earlier, India restricted West Indies to 240 for nine after skipper Suresh Raina won the toss and elected to field at the Queen's Park Oval.
Amit Mishra (4/31) and Munaf Patel (3/35) struck in the late moments to stop the run flow and trigger a collapse after the Caribbeans went off to a good start.
For the hosts, Ramnaresh Sarwan (56) and Lendl Simmons (53) cracked individual half-centuries up the order but their middle-order crumbled, slipping from 175 for three in 34 overs to 229 for nine in 48.5 overs.
Chasing the revised target, Patel left early, caught behind off a tickle, but Kohli held firm and was well supported by stand-in skipper Suresh Raina (26) who brought an early end to the innings.
India were off to a poor start when left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan (3) guided a Ravi Rampaul delivery into the hands of gully fielder.
But Kohli was in his element from the very start and rarely hit the ball in the air, a contrast with Parthiv Patel who scooped and flicked in vacant places at will.
Kohli completed his 2000 runs in ODI internationals with a sweep off Devendra Bishoo. It has taken him only 53 innings -- the second fastest behind the joint record holder Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sourav Ganguly (52 innings each).
None of the West Indian bowlers made any impression and the biggest flops were the local boys -- Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Bravo -- who made little impression with either bat or ball.
Patel, during his gritty knock, faced 64 balls and hit two fours and two sixes.
Kohli, who hit six fours and one six in his 103-ball innings, was finally dismissed in the last ball of the 31st over when looking for a six, he ended up holing out to Pollard off Bishoo at long-off.
Raina's brief cameo of runs came off 19 balls and contained one four and a six.
Earlier, leg-spinner Mishra took four for 31 with his sharply turning leg-breaks to keep West Indies down to 240 for nine after the hosts had threatened to run up a bigger total at one stage.
Munaf Patel (3 for 35) too played a good supporting hand as the West Indies lost six wickets for 48 runs in the final nine overs.
An entertaining 36 for Marlon Samuels and a hectic eighth wicket 31-run stand between skipper Darren Sammy (22 not out) and Ravi Rampaul (14) gave the Caribbeans some momentum but in the end the total was not enough.
Earlier, openers Simmons and Kirk Edwards (25) provided the perfect platform with 57 runs by the 13th over as they feasted on some rugged fielding and wayward bowling.
Edwards' first four flicked bowler Munaf Patel's raised hand to go to long-on fence and the next one was crashed past covers in the fourth over.
Moving into his stride, Edwards smote Praveen Kumar at the other end over mid-on, hurrying Indians to bring on leg-spinner Amit Mishra in the eighth over.
Simmons survived a caught behind in the 10th over after Munaf Patel overstepped the bowling crease.
Mishra was impressive from the word go but Simmons was confident enough to sweep him for four.
Harbhajan Singh, introduced in the 12th over, had a horrid start as he either bowled too wide or too full to go for 24 runs in his first two overs.
There were two deliveries which spun past leg stump to go for wide fours and then Edwards launched into a ferocious hit straight down the ground for a six.
Mishra gave Indians the first breakthrough after a sharply turning leg-break took the edge of Edwards' bat to nestle into the gloves of Parthiv Patel.
However, Simmons was unperturbed as he smacked Mishra over midwicket for a six and later dished out the same treatment to Yusuf Pathan to bring up his half century in the 25th over with the score reading 114 for one.
New man Sarwan and Simmons forged a 67-run partnership before the opener was departed in the 27th over in a rather ungainly manner when he rushed down the wicket and Patel stumped him off a wide delivery.
Sarwan though had dropped anchor at the other end and once powerfully square cut Harbhajan to the fence and then deftly guided Munaf past vacant slips for four.
His new partner Marlon Samuels was more aggressive as he stylishly drove Mishra to the cover fence and then pulled Yusuf behind square leg for another four.
In this eventful over, he smote the next ball for a six but then was fooled by a slow wide floater to be out stumped.
Sarwan then brought up his 37th ODI fifty with a boundary of Praveen Kumar but the right-handed batsman gifted his wicket away, hitting a rank full toss from Munaf Patel into the hands of the deep square leg fielder Amit Mishra.
With Pollard next in line, West Indies asked for the batting powerplay at 192 for four in the 42nd overs and it turned out to be a disaster spell for them.
Pollard survived three balls before his attempted sweep made him a leg-before candidate for nought. Bravo (8) stroked one in the deep as if to give catching practice to Harbhajan Singh and wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh completely misjudged a googly from Mishra to be bowled.
West Indies made 29 runs from the five overs of batting powerplay, losing three wickets.
Skipper Sammy and Rampaul then freed their arms for some entertaining hits before Munaf ended the pyrotechnics of this pair with two wickets in his final over.
Rampaul was caught in the deep and young Bishoo could only guide a rising delivery into the hands of the wicketkeeper.

PTI

India, WI suffer from absence of UDRS

Port of Spain: India appeared to have been at the receiving end of poor umpiring decisions in the first ODI against West Indies but at the end they might have left thanking their Cricket Board which had opposed the use of Decision Review System.

The UDRS was not used in the series as the BCCI was not in favour of it. © AFP

The West Indian innings on Monday appeared a tale of vengeance by the Caribbeans for having been browbeaten on giving up on UDRS by the BCCI with several of their players surviving what appeared to be clear dismissals.
But, all these seemed to have been neutralised as Rohit Sharma, who scored a match-winning 68, could have been out early in his innings had the Umpires' Decision Review System been used.
The UDRS was not used in the series as the BCCI was not in favour of it.
Ramnaresh Sarwan and Marlon Samuels appeared to have a license to survive as time and again an Indian appeal for leg-before wicket against them were turned down.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra has been resigned to his fate for most part of his career but even he was given to exasperation when twice he went up in appeal against Sarwan and on both ocassions it was rejected.
First, in the 22nd over, Mishra ripped one past Sarwan's defence but the umpire was unmoved. Fourteen overs apart, another one drifted down the legside and hit Sarwan on the backpad as he tried to sweep. Again no luck.
For a non-bowler, Suresh Raina thought he had the bowling Oscar when his fullish delivery beat Sarwan's intended flick and hit him plumb in front of stumps. No mercy again.
Not that the spinners, the nemesis of West Indians presently, were the only marked ones. Praveen Kumar bowled a leg-cutter which cut back to head towards the middle stump of Marlon Samuels. Umpire was unmoved again.
All the replays were to show that if UDRS was available, Indians would have been celebrating and cutting short of the West Indian innings much before they made 214 on a terribly hot day.
It was not long though that the Indians also appeared to have benefitted from the absence of UDRS.
Rohit Sharma was on 13 when leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo skidded one on to him, landing it on middle and leg and straightening. Sharma hurriedly brought his bat down but it was clear the ball had hit the pad first and then the bat.
Replays showed it a plumb decision.
Sharma went on to play a match-winning hand of 68 runs and Indians were left thanking a board and a gentlemen by the name of Ian Gould who really played the role of a neutral umpire to the hilt. All that went before in the day was neutralised in this manner.

PTI

India aim to strengthen hold, WI aim revival

Port of Spain (Trinidad): It was not the most comprehensive of wins but having taken a morale-boosting 1-0 lead in the series, India would look to press home the advantage against a nervy West Indies in the second one-dayer on Wednesday.

One of the biggest problems the West Indies batsmen are facing is their inability to rotate the strike and reduce the number of dot balls played. © AFP

The four-wicket win in the first one-dayer came after a wobbly start and the second-string Indian team would be aiming to plug the loopholes as the series progresses.
Missing key players Sachin Tendulkar and regular captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the young team led by Suresh Raina benefited from the West Indians' follies in the lung-opener.
The Caribbeans, on the other hand, would hope to tilt the scale in their favour by picking up on the few positives they gained from the four-wicket loss at the Queen's Park Oval on Monday night.
The hosts might have lost the first game by four wickets but they were probably 30 runs and a wicket away from walking away as winners.
Even though the pitch was sluggish, West Indies could have tested India with a score of 250-plus. That score was a possibility till key men Ramnaresh Sarwan (56) and Marlon Samuels (55), after an 82-run fourth wicket stand, departed in the final overs.
And when the Indians batted, another wicket around the midway stage with the visitors struggling at 104 for 4, could have brought them to their knees.
None of it happened and West Indies went down with five overs to spare.
Encouragingly for the hosts though, experienced batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan showed signs of returning to his best and there was much heart to be drawn in the performance of young spinners Devendra Bishoo and Anthony Martin.
West Indies could do with a little more firepower at their command in the second match and it wouldn't be a surprise if Kieron Pollard figures in the starting XI.
The all-rounder, without a fail, is an asset on the field and on his day, can win a game for the side with either bat or ball.
Pollard was left out of the game probably as a slap on his wrist for not preferring regional competition over the Indian Premier League (IPL). Now that the point has been made, he could be asked to bolster the side.
West Indies would also be encouraged by the lack of firepower at the Indians' command.
Even though the visiting spinners are difficult to get away, they are more economical than destructive in their spells.
Only if West Indies could rotate the strike - they played no less than 29.2 overs as dot balls on Monday -- they could yet push Indians into disarray.
For Indians, the worry is the apparent lack of class among openers. Parthiv Patel and Shikhar Dhawan have been pitch-forked to fill in for the injured duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir and their start was not too impressive.
Only if West Indies could get into India's middle order quickly and strike one or two fortuitous blows, they could still get the Indians in a spot.
Even though spinners are a strength for the Indians and the hosts are playing into their hands, the visitors would be happy if their openers could inspire faith and there is more firepower in their bowling attack.
Leg-spinner Amit Mishra, preferred ahead of R Ashwin, was impressive and so was Harbhajan Singh but there was little to suggest the visitors have the necessary edge to their attack.
The pace department is missing Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel would have to produce a special effort to prove himself a worthy replacement.
But given that the West Indians are desperately missing a certain Chris Gayle, the odds still favour Suresh Raina and his men.
Squads:
West Indies: Darren Sammy (capt), Lendl Simmons, Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Carlton Baugh (wk), Andre Russell, Anthony Martin, Devendra Bishoo, Ravi Rampaul.
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli, Subramaniam Badrinath, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Ramachandran Ashwin, Munaf Patel, Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma.

PTI

We expect a tough challenge from India: Gibson

Port-of-Spain: Despite missing several star players, including Sachin Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India will pose a tough challenge in the limited overs series starting at the Queen's Park Oval, said West Indies coach Ottis Gibson.

Despite missing several star players, including Sachin Tendulkar and captain MS Dhoni, India will pose a tough challenge in the limited overs series starting at the Queen's Park Oval, said West Indies coach Ottis Gibson. © AFP

"We had mixed results against Pakistan but we expect a tougher challenge from India, especially as they are the world champions. They would not be coming here as any push-overs, we've got to take the fight to them and ensure we come out victorious," Gibson said.
In the absence of regular skipper Dhoni, Suresh Raina has been named captain for the T20 and one-day series.
The team is without eight players from the victorious World Cup squad.
While Dhoni along with Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan have been rested, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh are down with injuries. Leg spinner Piyush Chawla and fast bowler S Sreesath were not considered for selection.
Gibson informed that captain Darren Sammy, who took little part in Thursday's practice session, is still overcoming a lower back injury and is doubtful for Saturday's T20 game.
The former pacer acknowledged that the West Indian batsmen need to be more consistent.
"I know some of the batsmen have been making good strides in the nets with (batting coach) Desmond Haynes but it's only when they go out in the middle that they have to produce the goods," Gibson said.
Talking about the current squad, he said, "We are trying to blend the younger players with the established ones and we hope to see the fruits of that labour in the coming months."

PTI

Gayle shadow still looms large over series

	There's no running away from Chris Gayle © Associated Press

Chris Gayle's shadow hung over the press conference. It was Suresh Raina who nailed Gayle's impact in a delightful moment of humour-infused candour. The question was a direct one: Are you relieved or are you disappointed that Gayle isn't playing? "To be honest I am a bit relieved at the moment," Raina said, as the press room filled with laughter.

The mood, though, turned sombre when the Gayle issue was put forward to the West Indies captain and the coach. Uncomfortable silence was punctuated by a note of defiance. It's an issue that has dogged West Indies for a while now and seems to be heading into a cul-de-sac. And so necks craned forward when the coach Ottis Gibson, who is alleged to have had problems with Gayle, was asked for his opinion. Gibson paused before he tried to be diplomatic. "There is a lot being said. I have left the board to deal with it and have tried to focus on cricket. I have been doing that since the Gayle issue started." The questioner persisted. Do you think both sides have been stubborn? "I don't know." Silence.

It was Darren Sammy's turn next and he chose to take a detour around the question. "It's an opportunity for all the other guys to perform." Diplomacy then gave way to pride. "We won a Twenty20 and a Test match against Pakistan. We have not done it since 2009 and didn't win for 17 Tests. We have managed to draw the series at home against a higher-ranked team. The guys represented West Indies proudly and played their best. We are looking again to play a team and do well." No mention of Gayle in there. Conspiracy theorists will spin it the way they want and Sammy fans will say there's little else he, as a captain, could have said.

Later, as the conference ended and Gibson was on his way out, he was again asked by couple of journalists about the Gayle issue. Do you think the board will arrive at a compromise and Gayle be picked for the third ODI? "They probably will." How are you going to react to that situation when Gayle comes back into the team? Pat came the reply: "I don't have a choice."

The rest of the conference was mundane. Raina and Duncan Fletcher talked about how this was a good opportunity for the youngsters in the team, Gibson and Sammy said they were looking forward to testing their skills against India. Raina said all the right things. "As long as you are playing for your country you get goosebumps. We have a responsibility to do well as the world champions. We will play our natural game and prepare for every match in a good way." Sammy, too, was upbeat. "Playing the No.1 team in the world should be motivating to any player. To do best against the best".

Even as the press meet was on, it rained outside. The covers were on and the Indian team practiced largely indoors. More rain is forecast for tomorrow.

There was one further tricky question that awaited Sammy. It was a direct question about his place in the Test side and how he was handling the growing feeling that he wasn't fit to be in the playing XI. Sammy leaned forward and looked at the questioner. "I go out and do what I have to do. Check the stats and stuff; I have done quite well as a Test cricketer. Whenever I step on to the field, I have West Indian cricket at heart. Everyone is entitled to their opinions but I have the support of my team. I believe in my own ability and I just try to do my best. I try my best. When I step on the field I try to play cricket for all the fans who want to us to get back on top."

India's future would be known after WI series: Richards

Port of Spain: Whether India can go on to dominate world cricket consistently would be known by its second-string side's performance against a not-so-strong West Indies in the upcoming ODI and Test series, feels batting legend Sir Vivian Richards.

Whether India can go on to dominate world cricket consistently would be known by its second-string side's performance against a not-so-strong West Indies in the upcoming ODI and Test series, feels Sir Vivian Richards. © AFP

"You can tell if it is the start of a dynasty when the bench strength is equally strong. To my mind, India has a very good pool of young cricketers," said Richards.
Even though India's opponents in the present series is a declining West Indian side, Richards felt it would be a pointer of things to come for the near future.
India is presently the number one Test side of the world. They are also the reigning world champions of one-day cricket.
The Indian team presently touring West Indies is without top seniors such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh.
It is packed with young cricketers who have barely cut their teeth in international cricket.
Many see the volume of cricket as well as the IPL as two reasons proving detrimental to the health of the game but Richards had a mixed opinion on the two thorny issues dogging world cricket.
"I love IPL. It has brought excitement to world cricket. People love to put their bum on the seats; they come to enjoy a game of cricket."
"The administrators though need to strike the right kind of balance. They must not kill the goose which lays the golden egg. They must not be caught on the wrong foot. The same is true for the volume of cricket. It could cut short international careers," Richards said.
"It's for the administrators to strike the right balance. Look at FIFA. They have club football which rolls out millions and millions dollars for its stars yet a national team is never debased. When it comes to top events, most national teams are at full strength," he added.
Richards couldn't quite tell if match-fixing had once again begun to eat away at the very core of the game.
"I don't know of any incident. I don't have any proof. So I can't tell if the authorities are doing enough or whether they need to do more.
"All I know is if there is someone who accepts money to make his own team lose against the rival team, his own nation against another nation, it is nothing short of treason. The same punishment should come his way as is reserved for a traitor."
PTI

Mission redemption for Fletcher in WI

Port of Spain: His first assignment as India's cricket coach is also a redemption mission for Duncan Fletcher as it was in the West Indies four years ago that he last left as head coach of a national side.

Duncan Fletcher has had more success in Test than in ODIs as a coach that would be something he would want to change in India's tour of Windies. © AFP

Fletcher resigned from his England post after a horrible run in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
It added to the bitterness of losing the ICC Champions Trophy finals to the West Indies in 2004; the 2003 World Cup loss to Australia at Port Elizabeth and the Natwest series final where India hunted down 325 runs to win in 2002.
Even as recent as in the 2011 World Cup in India, Fletcher, as a consultant to the side, couldn't help South Africa progress to the semifinals.
While Fletcher was coach, England played 175 one-day internationals and won only 75 with a winning percentage of 47.47. Most of these wins also included matches against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Namibia and the Netherlands.
There is no such issue in Tests though where England won 42 of the 96 matches under Fletcher, including the Ashes triumph of 2005 which secured the Zimbabwean's reputation.
Fletcher had then bemoaned the lack of contribution from team's number 9, 10 and 11 batsmen for England's failure and this perhaps was the thinking which led him to fiddle with the batting order all too often.
Even though Fletcher's real test would be later this summer in England, he can't afford to start on the wrong foot and emboss further his poor reputation as a one-day strategist.
India has sent its second string side to the West Indies which doesn't look too bad given that West Indian Cricket Board (WICB) has contrived to weaken its own squad all the more.
Fletcher left India stating that the team had a plan to stay on top in the West Indies even though he cautioned his wards not to take the hosts lightly in their own backyard.
"Any team playing at home is difficult and we should not be complacent," was his cautionary word.
Fletcher's plan almost certainly would include a good dose of spin and sharp fielding inside the ring as West Indian batsmen have conceded their inability to rotate the strike as their biggest falling.
He would have to make do with India's medium-pacers even though his preference for 90mph-plus bowlers is well known.
He would also have to eschew his preference for openers who can put 100 runs regularly on the board since India's choice is Shikhar Dhawan and Parthiv Patel.

PTI

Overnight rain deprives WI of outdoor practice

Port of Spain: Rain in the last few days hampered the West Indies in their practice session at the Queen's Park Oval, the venue of the first three limited overs matches against India starting on Saturday, and they had to sweat it out at the indoor facilities.

Despte the rains affecting their outdoor practice, the West Indian team still managed to put in some on their fielding. © AFP

As West Indies trooped in Queen's Park Oval for an intense training session, they were disappointed to learn that rains of last few days had rendered the practice pitches unfit to use.
The squad was left with no option but to train at Bryan Davis Indoor Nets but batting coach, yesteryear's great Desmond Haynes, wasn't ready to come to terms with the situation at the venue which will host a Twenty20 International and the first two ODIs of the series.
Haynes sought out 22-year-old Darren Bravo, who is seen as the next Brian Lara in this part of the world but had not done well against off-spinners in his young career, for a batting tutorial on the least-damaged pitch with a little mat rolled over the surface.
Haynes threw down his off-spinners for considerable length to the youngster as he made him drive, cut, sweep and more importantly, use his feet against the tossed up deliveries.
As Bravo honed up his skills, there was a sensational mirror-image of Lara presented to the bystanders.
The same languid gait, the same nipping of left glove to the groin as he awaited the delivery, the same uncoiling of electric body movement as he struck it.
The fielding session of the West Indian team was eye-catching and certainly designed for a sharp output within the inside ring.
The pitch at Queen's Park Oval being predicted as slow and low, rotating the strike would be critical and West Indian effort was clearly designed to ensure Indians don't attempt it without considerable risk.
Players formed a ring and took aim at three stumps in the middle of the Oval, doing it with an intensity which was breathtaking.
There were also sharp catches offered to them from short distance.
West Indian captain Darren Sammy, though, missed this practice session and came only around the time the boys were heading for indoor nets.
West Indies desperately needs its batting to come good against the Indians, for in the preceding Test series against Pakistan, only two half-centuries were managed by its batsmen, one of it by Darren Bravo.
The home side are relying heavily on Bravo to bail them out against the Indians in the upcoming series. Barring, one problem of course.
Bravo has an impressive Test (313 runs at 44.71) and one-day start (631 runs at 33.21) to his career but has surprisingly a large number of dismissals by the off-spinners for any comfort to West Indies.
From Saeed Ajmal to Mohammed Hafeez, Harbhajan Singh to Suresh Raina, Tillakaratne Dilshan to Johan Botha, everyone has had success against him.
Bravo is hailed as future of West Indian batting and certainly has right genes for it as he is related by blood to Lara and his half-brother is Dwayne Bravo, another naturally gifted cricketer.

PTI

No UDRS during India-WI series

Port Of Spain: The controversial Umpire Decision Review System will not be in place in the forthcoming series between India and the West Indies after the BCCI has convinced its Caribbean counterparts against the use of technology during the entire tour.

India has been a staunch critic of UDRS ever since Sachin Tendulkar went public with his disapproval of the system in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago. © Getty Images

The implementation of UDRS in a bilateral series is the prerogative of the home board but the powerful BCCI, who has opposed the system from the onset, has forced the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to do away with it in the series, which starts with a T20 International on Saturday.
A WICB spokesperson confirmed that UDRS will not be used in the one-off Twenty20 match, five ODIs or, for that matter, in the three upcoming Test matches.
Incidentally, UDRS was used when Pakistan toured the Caribbean recently.
India has been a staunch critic of UDRS ever since Sachin Tendulkar went public with his disapproval of the system in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago.
Just before the World Cup, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni too gave his thumbs down to the system.
"I don't support the UDRS as you have two gentlemen standing as umpires on the field, who are professionals. They also have the support of the third umpire. Referral system, I personally believe is not a cent per cent thing. I am not going to buy a life jacket that doesn't come with a warranty," he had said.
The last straw for India, perhaps, was the World Cup league match against England in Ahmedabad.
In the 25th over of the England innings, Dhoni sought the help of UDRS when on-field umpire turned down a lbw appeal against Ian Bell off Yuvraj Singh.
The technology clearly showed that Bell was out as the ball was going to hit the middle stump, yet, strangely, the third umpire ruled in favour of the batsman because the distance between the wicket and point of impact was more than 2.5 metres.

PTI

Opportunity for fringe players - Raina

	The tour of the West Indies will be a test for India's stand-in captain Suresh Raina and new coach Duncan Fletcher © AFP

The absence of several senior players for the upcoming tour of the West Indies provides an ideal platform for fringe players to shine on the international stage, Suresh Raina, India's captain for the limited-overs leg of the Caribbean tour, has said.

"It's a great opportunity for the youngsters who have done well in domestic cricket," Raina told the media ahead of the team's departure for the West Indies. "I am happy with the side, as we have some very good batsmen in Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, S Badrinath and Shikhar Dhawan, all of whom have done well in first-class cricket."

Raina, has led a similarly second-string Indian side in the past, for a tri-series Zimbabwe in May-June 2010, though India performed poorly on that tour, losing both matches against the hosts and one against Sri Lanka.

This time, India are without the services of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Zaheer Khan, who have all been rested, in addition to the ill Yuvraj Singh, and the injured duo of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir for the lone Twenty20 and the five ODIs that follow. MS Dhoni will take over the captaincy from Raina for the Tests, and Zaheer will return, but the other seniors will miss the Test leg as well.

Raina said he has learnt a lot about the art of captaincy from Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Dhoni, and was prepared for the challenge.

"West Indies have players like Gayle missing, but it will be a challenge for us," Raina said. "There's always pressure and we have done well under pressure. It's for us as players to execute the plans of the coach well. We have to play our natural game."

The tour will be the first assignment for India's newly-appointed coach Duncan Fletcher, who said he was a supporter of the rotation policy. "While I was in England [Fletcher coached England between 1999 and 2007], I started the rotation policy resting senior guys," Fletcher said. "I was heavily criticised by the English authorities. It's important to do that considering the heavy schedule. We need to look into the matter as we go into the future."

He said he looked forward to working with the youngsters, but cautioned against complacency. " Any team playing at home is difficult to beat. We should not be complacent. There is a lot of talent in India and my job is to prepare these youngsters.

"Yes, we would like to beat England in England and Australia in Australia. But the first job is the tour of the West Indies. It's very important not to look too far down the road. India have a plan to stay at the top. The young players have the potential and this tour will show the depth of talent we have."

He also said that the club versus country debate is something that just has to be dealt with. "That's the way it is in modern day sports. We have to ensure that all the players are fit enough."

India's tour of the West Indies kicks off with a T20 game on Friday in Port of Spain.

Rotating strike key to handling spinners: Gibson

Trinidad: Wary of India's lethal spin attack, West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has advised his batsmen to rotate the strike quickly while negotiating the slow ball bowlers of the World champion side in the upcoming tour.

Harbhajan Singh will lead India's spin attack with Amit Sharma and Ravivhandran Ashwin giving him company in India's tour of the West Indies. © AFP

The Caribbean batsmen had struggled against the Pakistani spin trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammed Hafeez and Abdur Rehman in the Test and ODI series, and Gibson wants his players to learn from the mistakes and perform better against India.
West Indies lost the ODI series against Pakistan 2-3 and drew the Test series 1-1.
India, the top-ranked Test team, will begin its Caribbean tour on June 4 with a one-off Twenty20 clash, which will be followed by a five-match ODI series and three Tests.
While Harbhajan Singh is certain to figure in both the Test and ODI series, leg-spinner Amit Mishra and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin have so far been included for the One-dayers.
Indian spinners have shown good form in the IPL but Gibson believes his side can compete well against them.
"It is not a lot of time but we got a lot of players that have played the spin and made runs against spin before. People just have to be clear what their game plan is against spin and back themselves and their ability," Gibson said.
The coach, though, advised his players to not let the spinners bowl too many dot balls.
"They are setting us up, working us out and getting us out quite easy so we need to be able to rotate the strike against the spinners a lot more and make sure that the bowlers aren't bowling too many balls in succession to us.
"Sometimes, we look very tentative and we sort of lock ourselves in a hole and then our only response is to try to hit ourselves out of the hole. We got to find the balance between attack and defence," Gibson was quoted as saying by Trinidad Express.
West Indies skipper Darren Sammy also feels that their fate in the contest against India would depend a lot on how they handle the spinners.
"We as a batting group have to play spin better. Not only in the Test series but in the One-Day series as well, they gave our batsmen trouble.
"I know the guys are working hard with the batting coach (Desmond Haynes) in the nets and I can foresee a better performance against India," Sammy said.
"The batting definitely has to come to the party where we could bat long and put good totals on the board so the bowlers could have something to work with. It's a big series and we all looking forward to it," he added.

Dravid approves of Gambhir as India captain

Mumbai: Veteran India batsman Rahul Dravid on Friday hailed the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the skipper for the T20 and the ODI teams for the series against the West Indies beginning next month.

Rahul Dravid hailed the appointment of Gautam Gambhir as the skipper for the T20 and the ODI teams for the series against the West Indies beginning next month. © AFP

Gambhir was chosen to lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has been rested along with batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar and pace spearhead Zaheer Khan.
"Gambhir has done it before against New Zealand where we won handsomely. He is a good captain. There is no reason why he can't do it again," Dravid said on the sidelines of an event.
The Delhi southpaw, currently captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, had led the team to a 5-0 rout of the New Zealand at home last year.
Dhoni had, at that time, left for the South Africa to acclimatise for a Test series that began six days after the last ODI against the Kiwis.
To a query on left-hander Suresh Raina, who has been appointed Gambhir's deputy, the experienced Dravid said, "Raina is a good prospect. He does well. He is a very good player who has proved himself."
The 38-year-old former India captain said though the team for the T20 and five ODIs was young, it was by no means weak and was capable of a good performance.
"The team is young but the youngsters are experienced so I am confident that they will do well," he added.