NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – Off-spinner Sunil Narine said yesterday he was forced to make some quick adjustments which led to his three-wicket haul on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand.
The 24-year-old right-armer finished with three for 73 as the Black Caps finished the day on 232 for four after opting to bat first at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
“I learned a few things about Test cricket today. This is my second Test match. I didn’t have a great start last month in England so I sort of made up a bit today,” said Narine, who was the hero of the preceding limited overs series.
“Today, I realised I had to be patient and persistent and try to wear down batsmen in Test cricket. In the One-Dayers and T20 matches the batsmen always come after you, but in Test cricket they can sit back and wait for you to make the mistake.
He added: “In my first spell I was rushing it a little bit so I decided to slow things down and be much more relaxed in my approach. That worked and I was able to get those three crucial wickets. Tomorrow we will come back and go back to work again.”
Narine, who had an unflattering debut in England last month, claimed his first wicket when he had opener Daniel Flynn caught at backward point by Kieran Powell for 45.
Flynn’s dismissal broke a 97-run first wicket stand with Martin Guptill who narrowly missed out a century with 97.
Narine said the moment was a special one and it served as a major boost to his morale in what was a difficult outing for the Windies.
“It’s a special moment to get your first Test wicket. It’s a moment I will remember,” Narine pointed out.
“When I got my first wicket I looked up to say ‘thanks’ for helping me to get the first one. In the huddle someone said ‘that’s the first of many to come’ and it gave me a boost of confidence.
“I went back to work and I was happy to get two more wickets by the end of the day. We fought back well today, we didn’t let them get too far ahead of us.”
Narine followed up with the crucial wicket of captain Ross Taylor in the final session for 45 to break a third-wicket stand of 90 with Guptill, and he also picked up Guptill late in the day, taken at mid-on by Narsingh Deonarine.
