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WEST Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick is challenging his batsmen to bat deep and not depend on others to take up the responsibility in the three-match One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka, which bowls off at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, on Wednesday, at 9.30 am.
In the three-match T20 series, which ended on Sunday, West Indies prevailed with a 2-1 win. The Sri Lanka spinners, led by Wanindu Hasaranga, proved to be handful for the Windies batsmen throughout the series. Hasaranga ended the series as the top bowler with eight wickets.
Left-arm fast bowler Obed McCoy was the chief destroyer for West Indies with four scalps in the series.
West Indies have made six changes to the squad for the 50-over series with vice-captain Shai Hope, Darren Bravo, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Jason Mohammed and Romario Shepherd joining the team.
It was a low scoring T20 series as Sri Lanka's score of 160/6 in the second match batting first was the highest score of the series.
On Tuesday, speaking to journalists on Zoom, Estwick said it is not only a matter of batting time but the batsmen must keep the scoreboard ticking. "It is alright to say you are going to bat time, you still got to try and make sure to get somewhere around 300...we got to come out with better game plans, we've got to execute better."
Estwick said the West Indies batsmen must maintain a high strike rate and aim to score around 340, 350 if they bat first.
"Somebody has got to bat as deep as possible and the players know their roles and like I said earlier if we execute on our roles properly then we should be okay."
Estwick, who said it is key for one of the top four batsmen to bat deep in the innings, added, "Don't leave it to anyone. Too many times people have been leaving it to someone else to come in and then they fail and then you don't get the required target. The key thing is to make sure that when you in, you stay in and when you got that momentum run with the momentum as long as possible because that is key in international cricket."
West Indies will welcome the return of Hope. Hope has been one of the most prolific batsmen in ODI cricket over the past few years. During his career, the right-handed opener has scored 3,289 runs in 78 matches at a healthy average of 52.20. He has an excellent conversion rate with 17 fifties and nine centuries. Hope last played for West Indies on its tour of England last June/July. He was dropped for the tour of New Zealand in November/December, before opting not to travel with the team to Bangladesh earlier this year because of covid19 concerns or personal fears, according to Cricket West Indies.
"We are very happy to see Shai back, obviously he is a very important member for us, " Estwick said. "Not just as a batsman, but as wicket-keeper as well and he is also vice-captain, so we welcome him back with open arms. We know what Shai is capable of doing (and) Shai knows his role very, very well and he will set about to do that and that's important for us."
Estwick thinks West Indies will be competitive because of its experience and the regional team will be playing in familiar conditions. "I don't know if we can give assurance (that we will win the series). What we will try and do is to put up a better performance than we did in Bangladesh. Remember that we got a lot of players back who weren't in Bangladesh, we've got a lot more experience in this group...and also we are playing in our home conditions and you would know we are a lot better in our backyards."
An inexperienced West Indies team were swept 3-0 by Bangladesh in an ODI series in January.
SQUADS
WEST INDIES
Kieron Pollard (captain), Shai Hope (vice-captain), Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Jason Mohammed, Nicholas Pooran, Romario Shepherd, Kevin Sinclair
SRI LANKA
Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Dasun Shanaka, Danushka Gunathilake, Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananajaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilshan Madushanka, Suranga Lakmal.
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