West Indies must improve approach against Sri Lanka spin

West Indies coach Daren Sammy says his side must improve its batting approach against Sri Lanka’s spin bowling in Saturday’s pivotal One-Day International at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

The two sides will square off in the second of three matches, with the visitors holding a 1-0 series lead, after winning the opening match by 

41 runs on Wednesday to register their first-ever ODI win against the Windies at that venue.

While the regional side has enjoyed good form in the format at home during the last 18 months, they have now lost their last five ODI matches.

This slump in form will be of concern to Sammy as the qualification cut off point for next year’s World Cup grows closer.

“I think we definitely have to play their spin much better; you know, their spinners went probably for 68 runs off 20 overs. It’s something that we have to be better at in the next game. We’ve spoken about it and it’s about getting the confidence to have all the skills they’ve been working on to implement it in the game,” Sammy said.

Ahead of tomorrow’s game, Sammy remains confident of the team’s ability to win the remaining two games of the series.

He urged his players to draw on past experiences in similar situations.

“I think we’ve been in positions like this before over some of the series we’ve won at home and come back stronger. We had two new openers in John [Campbell] and Justin [Greaves] and the way they approached the game, that controlled aggression, was good. Captain Shai Hope continues to lead the batting. I thought the new ball spell was really good, Matthew [Forde] and Jayden [Seales] continue to ask questions. But like I said earlier, tomorrow is a new day,” Sammy said.

With the series on the line, the head coach has also hinted at possible changes to the team, which he feels might “probably better balance our team with what the surface presents.”

Sammy, however, believes the surface for the second match may be a better one.

“The first game there were some bare patches where the ball spun, 

but looking at the surface today, it looks much better and harder and I expect it to be firmer, so then I don’t expect it to spin that much. We have our 12 and will make a final call when we see the pitch tomorrow,” he said.

The game will hold special significance for Hope, who will play his 150th match in the format. 

Sammy said the skipper has been exemplary in leading the batting lineup for the last three to four years.

“You know, I see him as one of our greatest ODI batsmen with his record and his consistency, but for me just having been here working with him and 

seeing him work, there’s no surprise to me the numbers he puts out there. 

“He pays a lot of attention to details with his preparation and he works really hard to be consistent and averages 50 plus in ODI cricket. So congrats to you Shai on this milestone and hopefully you and the rest of the team could make it a victorious one,” Sammy added.

(KH)