PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Captain Chris Gayle said his embattled West Indies were focussed on regrouping for the second Test after plunging to a 163-run loss to South Africa in the first Test.
Chasing 457 for victory, the woeful Windies crashed to 293 all out to lose inside four days at the Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday and fall behind in the three-match series.
The regional side square off with the Proteas in the second Test at Warner Park in St Kitts starting later this week.
“We are now looking forward to the second Test in St Kitts where we know we have to look for a victory and stay in the series,” Gayle said.
“As I said before the start, it won’t be easy for us, the South Africans are an experienced team and they are playing well at the moment, but we have to believe in ourselves and play good, hard cricket.”
West Indies were always struggling to save the Test once they fell for a meagre 102 in response to South Africa’s first innings of 352.
The visitors, opting not to enforce the follow-on, then built on their lead before declaring prior to lunch on Sunday, at 206 for four.
Gayle, who top-scored with 73 in the second innings, conceded that the wretched first innings effort with the bat had been the deal breaker.
“We batted poorly in the first innings and that actually cost us the game very quickly,” he said.
“We were up against quality bowlers and we knew it would not be easy. They got the better of us. We batted poorly in the first innings and that cost us the game. We needed to get more runs on the board in the first innings to be more competitive.”
He added: “We are in the rebuilding process and we asked a couple of batsmen to bat at positions they are not accustomed to, but it is something in cricket and, as batsmen, whenever you get a chance, you have to make the best use of it.
“But we are not going to use it as an excuse. We have to try and make the necessary adjustments for the next Test match.”
Following the second test in St Kitts which starts on Friday, the series will move to Barbados for the final Test from June 26-30.
South Africa have not lost to West Indies since going down in a one-off Test in 1992, the year they made their return to international cricket.
