Gibson expects tough series

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A tongue in cheek remark by West Indies coach Ottis Gibson about playing seven bowlers to face the powerful Indian batting line-up reflects the worries facing the visitors ahead of their opening Test against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla here from Sunday.

The West Indies are all set to play a three-match Test series here, but despite their recent win in Bangladesh, the team are still mulling over the right bowling combination to tackle a batting lineup that features the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir.

“Obviously there has to be a lot of positives from the Bangladesh series. Guys like Dwayne Bravo, Kirk Edwards and Darren Sammy contributed with the bat and ball, but this is a different challenge,” Gibson said, after the team’s net session at Kotla on Friday.

“India may not be No. 1 right now but they are still a top side. They have a young side but the experienced guys such as Sachin, Gambhir and Sehwag are back.”

The Caribbean side beat Bangladesh 1-0 earlier this week in a two-match Test series.
Fresh from the victory and already acclimatised to the sub-continent’s conditions, Gibson said his boys were confident of a good show.

“We are a team high on confidence. We just played a tough series in Bangladesh where the conditions were similar, so we relied on our skills. We are very well acclimatised to the conditions here,” he said.

On the mood in the dressing room, he said, “Fearless is how I want all my players to be. We are a developing side, a young side and so the atmosphere is positive. A lot of young players are doing well. We expect a tough fight but we are ready for it.”

Gibson added that leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo “has a major role to play, has to back his ability”.
Pacer Ravi Rampaul, reiterated that the West Indian side had quality spinners to back up the pacers.

“We have quite a few good spinners and all-rounders as well. If we stick to our tasks, our plans, it shouldn’t be a problem.”