Roseau (Dominica): West Indies skipper Darren Sammy claims his team has finally figured out a chink in their chief tormentor Rahul Dravid`s armour and the in-form senior Indian batsman would be out of equation early in the third and decisive Test here.
"Dravid is very vulnerable to deliveries on his off-stump early in his innings. Moving deliveries on the off-stump can be an issue with (VVS) Laxman also. We would like to keep them to low scores or at least make sure they don`t bat together for a long time," stated Sammy.
Rahul Dravid is the leading scorer of the series with 212 to his name. Laxman is second only to him from either side with 184 runs to himself. Together, they have been the difference between the two sides.
West Indies, in contrast, haven`t had the same influence from their seniors. Ramnaresh Sarwan is already axed for strings of poor scores while veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul hasn`t made a meaty contribution yet."Shiv has been with us for long time. It happens rarely when Shiv hasn`t responded if the team is in crisis. We are hoping he will come good here," remarked Sammy about the left-hander who becomes the most capped West Indian player ever in the Dominica Test on Wednesday.
The final Test will be the 133rd of his career for Chanderpaul which takes him ahead of Courtney Walsh` record of 132 matches.
Indeed, West Indies batting has been their nemesis in this series. Neither the young batsmen, nor Sammy himself, have contributed substantially to the total.
"I have been working hard with Dessie (Desmond Haynes, batting coach). My strength has been to strike the ball down the ground," claimed Sammy who is hoping to play to his strength in the final Test.
West Indies need the younger batsmen of the side to hold the innings together and Sammy said either Kirk Edwards or Kieran Pollard, or both, could get a look-in in the final Test.
"Powell is an exciting player. He scored a hundred against England Lions early this year. The sources from Sagaicor Coaching Academy have only praise for him the way he has progressed.”
"Kirk Edwards, I believe, could be the rock of our batting in times to come. He has an excellent temperament; has a lot of mental strength."
West Indies` strength has been their new-ball fast bowling pair, Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul. Both have picked up wickets at regular intervals in the series. The two have been instrumental in India not reaching 300 in four innings in the series so far.
"Fidel has done an excellent job and has been excellent in settling down quickly. He is asking the right questions all the time.""Rampaul is the leading strike bowler for us. He has given us regular breakthroughs. He has been a definite wicket-taker for us," he said.
Sammy then turned his attention to the pitch and conditions at Windsor Park.
"Any team which makes 300 in the first innings stand a very good chance to win the series.
"I am hoping the wickets will have the same pace as was seen in the first two Tests. There has been rain at this ground for the last 7-8 days so there would be moisture on the pitch. We are hoping to insert India in if we win the toss and put them under pressure straightaway," he said.
PTI
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