AHMEDABAD, India, CMC – West Indies Test captain Roston Chase has placed the team’s dismal showing in the opening Test against India squarely on the shoulders of the batters.
The Windies were routed for 162 and 146 in their first and second innings respectively, on their way to a demoralising innings and 140-run defeat to the home side inside three days at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
While no West Indies batter scored 40, Dhruv Jurel, Ravendra Jadeja, and KL Rahul all hit centuries in India’s mammoth first innings total of 448 for five declared.
Speaking in a post-match press conference on Saturday following the defeat, Chase admitted that the team’s batting continued to be a significant concern.
“Obviously, we had a poor batting display, and this is something that has been plaguing us for the past two series. We’ve not been able to bat at least 80 overs, bat a day, or even get 250 or 300 runs on the board.
“Anytime you win a toss in a Test match and bat and you don’t bat out the first day, you’re always going to be behind the eight ball,” Chase said.
“We didn’t start well, and we never really put any partnerships in place. We never really got back into the game, we never put those partnerships together, and we paid for it.
“In the table, obviously, they are ranked higher than us, so they’re supposed to be a stronger team, but I think we could have done better. I don’t think that the wicket was a wicket that we should be bowled out twice under 200, 250. I think it’s a pitch that we could have at least gotten 300 runs in the first innings. I thought it was a perfect batting wicket,” he added.
Chase, who opted to bat after winning the toss, maintained that his decision was not to blame for the loss.
He said the West Indies’ batters needed to work on their defensive tactics heading into the second Test on Friday at New Delhi.
“I don’t think the decision was a bad decision. We saw the wicket, and although it had some moisture, we still felt it was a good wicket to bat first on. We thought that once we batted well and the openers went out there and saw off that moisture, it would have been a good wicket to bat on, as we did see coming on later into the first day.
“I just think that it’s a case where our defense needs to be a bit tighter. I find that we gifted some of the wickets too easily,” Chase said.
“There was some rough and some balls were spinning out of the rough, but there weren’t any devils in the wicket, and I still thought it was a wicket you could stand up and bat on, as shown by the Indian batters.”
“I think we need to trust in our defense a bit more, because I can’t say that we weren’t scoring because the run rate was still good, but I just think that we need to be a little more solid in our defense,” he added.
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