West Indies head coach Daren Sammy is backing a strong pace attack and a clear plan,as his team heads towards India for a two-Test series in October. He is confident that his bowlers can showcase their ability to pick ‘20 wickets’ on any surface. Sammy wants his team to follow the example set by New Zealand, who defeated India 3-0 last year.
“New Zealand went there and did incredibly well and that we should take inspiration from. But again, it’s understanding the things that New Zealand did in those conditions and try to emulate it with our guys as well,” Sammy said at a press conference.
He thinks the West Indies have enough variation in bowling to take 20 wickets, which they need to win. “We have found ourselves in a position where our seam attack could operate in any condition,” Sammy explained. He spoke about the length that works in India and the variety in his team’s fast bowling department.
Sammy highlighted the strengths of his team. “You have Shamar Joseph, who’s very skiddy, Jayden (Seales), who has a strong front leg and can swing the ball both ways. Then you have Alzarri Joseph with his height and the bounce he could extract. So, again, we take confidence in that, especially the way they’ve been bowling over the last year. The ability to take 20 wickets, because that’s what you will need in India.”
He added that he kept the plan simple. “The process remains the same. The lines and lengths don’t change in terms of that six-to-eight-metre length.”
According to him, some adjustment will be needed in terms of whether to go a touch fuller or a touch further back. “I have full confidence in that and it makes me smile knowing that we go out bowling and we take 20 wickets.”
Sammy spoke about their mindset against India. “We’re definitely going down there with the mindset to win. We’re not just going to go down there and think, ‘oh, it’s India’“.
The series begins in Ahmedabad on October 2. The second Test is in Delhi from October 10.
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