West Indies interim head coach Richard Pybus believes Saturday’s stunning 381-run victory over England in the opening Test was an indication of the team’s true potential.
The hosts handed England a crushing defeat at Kensington Oval to end the first Test with a full day and a half remaining.
“I’m delighted. The guys played extremely well – prepared well, executed well do I’m just very happy for the boys,” Pybus told reporters after the match.
“I think when you turn up and you deliver your game plans and you execute it really well with precision, it gives you an understanding of possibilities and what you can do down the line.
“They really turned up, they kept their focus, what we looked to do strategically, they did. I think that’s all credit to Jason and how he led the team and the boys.”
England resumed the final day on 56 without loss in search of an improbable 628 for victory, and reached lunch on 134 for two. However, four wickets tumbled in the second session as they lost their last eight wickets for 112 runs to be dismissed for 246 in their second innings.
Part-time off-spinner Roston Chase spearheaded the Windies’ attack, taking eight for 60 in a brilliant 21-over spell, in a performance Pybus described as “wonderful”.
“I just think the pressure created by the bowling unit was great,” Pybus said.
“You have four good quick bowlers. Roston bowled exceptionally well, his control was good, [there were] good fields, [he] built up a huge amount of pressure throughout the day and just his control and consistency. That will give him a huge amount of confidence going forward.
He added that the team complemented each other and “managed to put together good waves of pressure”.
“Interestingly on the fourth day we thought it would go up and down a little more than it did.
“But the quicks were good and I just think that the amount of pressure that was built up – I don’t want to say Roston didn’t bowl well; he bowled exceptionally well – but when you’ve got pressure from both ends it’s pretty tough for the batters.”
The two teams now travel to Antigua for the second Test which will be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
Play starts on Thursday, January 31 and first ball daily is 10 a.m. (9 a.m. Jamaica Time).
