COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Darren Sammy has urged his West Indies side to remain focussed on the task at hand, following the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka.
The weather has badly disrupted the series, particularly in the second Test at the Premadasa Stadium, where West Indies allowed Sri Lanka to recover from a shaky start to control the game.
“It’s always difficult when you are on and off the cricket field,” said the West Indies captain. [On Saturday’s last day] it looked like we wouldn’t have any play, but the weather cleared up. . .This is something as professionals we have to master.”
The three-match series remains level at 0-0, with the third and final Test, starting on Wednesday at Pallekele.
One of the areas of concern for West Indies will again be their fielding, with a few dropped catches, including Sammy’s reprieve of century-maker Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka captain, proving costly.
“I know the potential we have as a fielding team,” he said. “The guys work hard, and put a high level of quality on their fielding.
“In cricket, you drop catches, but what I would like to see is half-chances to go in our favour, at least one or two.”
He said: “We haven’t been able to capitalise on the half-chances our bowlers created. But all in all, we could work on it and correct it.”
Sammy acknowledged his amazement that West Indies would enter the final Test without the series decided.
He believes the visitors are taking small steps towards restoring the reputation that the West Indies team once held.
“You don’t change overnight,” he said. “You have a process. I must say that our work ethic has been excellent.
“Even the fight we showed [on Saturday], it’s good to see that we are thinking of the fans at home. They are waking up at early hours to watch this game.
“From the reports we have got from [the Caribbean], people are quite happy to see the fight the team is putting up.”
