NEW DELHI, India – West Indies Test captain Roston Chase has admitted that while a string of bad results has seriously dented the confidence of the players, he still believes they can turn things around in the second Test which bowls off on Friday.
The West Indies head into the final Test on a four-match losing streak and have not won a Test match since defeating Pakistan in early January.
To make matters worse, their last four Test defeats have come inside three days, having lost the opening Test by an innings and 140 runs before tea on the third day.
Needing a victory to tie the series 1-1, Chase said his troops had the power to change their fortunes.
Speaking in a pre-match press conference on Thursday, Chase said the team’s batsmen in particular just needed a big score to regain their confidence.
West Indies captain Roston Chase during the final practice session ahead of the second and final Test against England on Friday. (Photo courtesy CWI Media)
“Obviously we’re down right now, but it has to change at some point, and the change will start from now, but it starts with the belief and the mindset of each and every player and to keep motivating the guys that we can still play some positive cricket and change around our downfall at the moment.
“The guys are lacking confidence but it’s just to get that one score, to get that start and to then kick on from there,” Chase said.
“I just think that once you obviously get that good innings, that 100 or that big 50, that then gives you the confidence to then know that I can actually do it.”
Chase maintained that his players trusted and believed in their abilities and skills to perform at the highest level.
However, the skipper said for that to happen they needed to put the disappointing results of past series out of their minds.
“I think everyone is confident, but when we got out there we didn’t start well as a batting unit and the pressure is on and it’s for us to soak up that pressure as batters and still find a way to score and put back the pressure onto the Indian bowlers, so I just think that is the biggest challenge for us.
“I don’t think that we’re not confident, I just think that we need to get that start and kick on and we’ll be fine. I think the key is to stay in the present and not think too far ahead or too far back,” Chase said.
“You have to play each delivery on merit and play what you see, not what you think. I think that led to my downfall in the last game…so it’s just to stay positive at the crease and always look to score. Even though it’s Test cricket I don’t think you can just go out there looking to survive.”
(CMC)
