Windies go after convincing series win
ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) — The West Indies are favourites to complete a series win over Zimbabwe when the second of two Tests matches begins in Windsor Park Roseau today.
Darren Sammy’s men are hoping to repeat the performance which earned them a nine-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the first Test at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown last week.
Manager Richie Richardson says the Caribbean side is going all out for a convincing series win.
“You got to always be on top of the game. You got to always play well. We want to win the series convincingly,” declared Richardson, the former Windies captain.
“We are not going to ease up, so hopefully the weather will be good going into this game, and we believe that we can win this series two nil.”
West Indies won the One-Day Internationals 3-0 at the Grenada National Stadium, took the T20s 2-0 at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, and lead the two-match Test series 1-0.
Victory against Zimbabwe in Roseau would extend the home side’s winning streak in Test to six, their longest since l988.
“We just want to win this match and create some history,” said Richardson.
“The camaraderie is very good. We have got a very good thing going, a good blend of some experienced players and young players.”
Hundreds are expected to flock Windsor Park, especially to see local boy Shane Shillingford in international action for the first time since his recall to the regional side.
Shillingford, a star performer for West Indies with a nine-wicket haul in the first Test, is playing at the same venue where he snatched a 10-wicket haul against Australia a year ago.
Shillingford has said he expects the surface to “bounce a little bit” on a pitch where spinners claimed 26 of the 40 wickets Australia and West Indies lost in last year’s Test.
“We anticipate that the crowd will come out in big numbers… a local player will be on show again,” said Richardson.
“He did well in the last Test match and did very well the last time we played here, so I’m sure they will come out to see him and the team do well.”
