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FORMER TT and West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Deryck Murray expects the regional team to continue their winning momentum from the T20 and One Day International (ODI) series against Sri Lanka into the two-Test series, which bowls off on March 21.
The West Indies-Sri Lanka matches are all taking place in Antigua due to the covid19 pandemic.
The hosts, under the leadership of Kieron Pollard, triumphed 2-1 in the three-match T20 series and swept the ODI series 3-0.
Last week, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced their decision to replace all-rounder Jason Holder with opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite as Test captain, after Brathwaite led the WI to a 2-0 series sweep over hosts Bangladesh.
Holder was among a group of established Test and ODI players who opted out of that tour due to covid19 fears and personal reasons. Holder and Darren Bravo were recalled to the 13-man Test team for the first Test, but the selectors retained 11 players who were involved in the Bangladesh series.
In a telephone interview on Monday, Murray said, “In the last Test series, the West Indies team did extremely well, with all things being considered. It’s very good that the selectors have maintained faith in those players that have performed.
“I’m happy with the way the team has been selected for the Test series. I believe that they have a very good chance of winning against Sri Lanka.
“Taking the results from the T20 and the one-dayers, I think there is a momentum going into (the Test series).
“Kraigg Brathwaite marshalled the team extremely well in the last series against Bangladesh and, with the addition of Jason Holder, it really will be good if they continue with that way of winning.”
Murray played 62 Tests and 26 ODIs for the Wet Indies, between 1963 and 1980.
He continued, “The players need to believe that they are representing the West Indies. They are not getting a run in the team, they are the West Indies team, they have to perform.
“It’s good that we’re moving from whipping Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, who are just above us in the rankings. It’s a good stepping-stone for the West Indies to win (and) build their confidence.”
In the ODI series, the West Indies won the first game by eight wickets, followed by five-wicket victories in the next two matches.
The WI team had a centurion in each match – Shai Hope (110), Evin Lewis (103) and Bravo (102).
“The 50-over series was a little more emphatic in terms of the WI victory,” said Murray. “There were times when situations were close but the team prevailed.
“The team prevailed because I think they had a very sensible strategy to ensure that one of the top three or four batsmen batted right through the innings. I think that is so important.”
Murray, who currently serves as TT High Commissioner to Jamaica, continued, “It’s also important to make sure that the fielding is consistently at the highest level. It was a good showing by the West Indies and it augurs well for the next few series.
“It’s important that the West Indies win the Test series, and start making the players feel that they are a winning team and they’re not just playing, hoping to do well and showcasing yourself. You’re not showcasing yourself, you’re playing for the West Indies and you’re playing to win. It’s good that we try to build that kind of culture in the team.”
There were debate among regional cricket fans ahead of the T20 series when veterans Chris Gayle and Fidel Edwards were recalled to the squad, while Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo returned to the fold after missing the 2-0 series defeat away to New Zealand in late 2020.
Murray noted, “It was an extremely important victory over the Sri Lankans. The series was close and each game was close, but the important thing is, from those close situations, to be able to win. You really need to be looking very closely at the performances of the individual players. I’m not too concerned about the age of players but each player’s ability to contribute to the team’s effort.”
The ex-TT Cricket Board president added, “As you see in most T20 games, the games are going to be close, therefore the important thing is got to be on contribution to each particular game in a series. I’m hoping that, as we go along, the West Indies selectors are taking note and making sure that they come to the World T20 very confident in what the team is, and Pollard, as captain, is very comfortable in the players behind him.”
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