In New Delhi on Tuesday, West Indies lost a Test match by seven wickets and collapsed to a 2‑0 defeat in the series against India. But captain Roston Chase said the team’s spirited comeback in the second innings shows they’re moving into a more competitive era of red‑ball cricket.
Chase praised the West Indies line‑up for fighting hard. He highlighted how the team batted for almost 200 overs in the first innings, with John Campbell and Shai Hope each scoring centuries. The second innings saw a big turnaround, with West Indies piling up 390 runs in just 119 overs.
“This was the kind of fight I wanted to see,” Chase said after the match. “It’s a stepping‑stone for us and builds the confidence that we can stand up to true Test nations. Even if we lose, we want to lose in a positive way and bring out the best in our players.”
The performance was a rare glimpse of resilience from a West Indies batting unit that has been under criticism—especially after being bowled out for 27 against Australia at home. Indian conditions helped, with a flatter pitch at the Arun Jaitley Stadium giving batters time to settle. The slow, low Delhi surface offered little help to the bowlers, allowing West Indies to post a more respectable total.
Chase admitted there is still room for improvement, mainly in batting. “Our bowling attack is solid,” he said. “Once we put good first‑innings totals on the board, we can fight for wins in Test cricket.”
He also said the West Indies will be back in New Zealand soon, and expects to learn from tough series against Australia, India and New Zealand. “We will take what we learned into the next year when we face teams like Sri Lanka and Pakistan,” he added.
Chase called on the board to give players more opportunities to play spin‑friendly matches, recalling a training stint at the Chennai Super Kings high‑performance academy. “We’re more comfortable with fast bowlers than spin,” he noted. “More exposure to spin would help our players adapt at the international level.”
He also said long runs in the team are essential to let new players learn on the job. “Some of our youngsters play only 15‑20 first‑class games before hitting the international stage, unlike other countries that give them 80‑100 games,” Chase observed.
In reflecting on the West Indies’ mood, the captain stressed the importance of joy in the dressing room. “When we play well, the team enjoys each other’s company. That joy builds confidence and moves us forward,” he said.
Chase ended by reminding readers that, despite ups and downs, cricket remains the sport of choice in the Caribbean. “Cricket is the number one sport in the Caribbean,” he said. “It’s a passion that keeps young people dreaming and the fans watching.”
Source: ianslive
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