Have to find a way to score against spinners: Sammy

[1]

West Indies captain Darren Sammy on Wednesday said his batsmen have to find a way to score against Indian spinners for the team to have any chance of doing well in the ongoing three-Test series, the first of which the visitors lost in four days.

Indian spinners R. Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha shared 16 wickets between them while conceding 237 runs in the match and Sammy said his side will have to play the slow bowlers better.

"220-odd runs and 16 wickets (by Indian spinners). We need to find a way to score against spin," Sammy said at the post-match press conference after the five-wicket loss.

"Attacking against the spinners could be an option like Shiv (Shivnarine Chanderpaul) showed. When the spinners operate, we went into a shell and we could have been more positive," he said.

Despite the loss, Sammy said his side had played some good cricket though they could have done better in the second innings.

"It is difficult to beat India in home conditions. But we played some good cricket though we could have batted better in second innings. Had we scored 250-plus in the second innings, India would have to chase 350-plus and the game would have been different," he said.

"Sachin (Tendulkar) and VVS Laxman took the game away from us. We could not have done anything different," he said.

Asked about the plan to dismiss Sachin Tendulkar, who again missed out on the opportunity to score his 100th international ton, as he was out LBW to Devendra Bishoo for 76, Sammy said he advised the bowler on how to go about it.

"I told him to bowl round the wicket and on the rough but he told me let him bowl two balls over the wicket and he got Sachin's wicket from one such delivery."

The visiting captain said he was not worried by the form of Ravi Rampaul who took just two wickets in the match.

"Ravi has been playing for a long time and he is a true fighter. I am not worried about his form. Someday somebody can have an off day," he said.

Sammy said opening batsman Adrian Barath and pacer Kemar Roach could have a look-in for the second Test starting in Kolkata on November 14.

"We have a long batting line-up and we need to apply. Our two openers are inexperience as compared to the Indians. Adrian is yet to be fully recovered from injury. He may be considered for the second Test. Kemar Roach will also be looked into."