Windies coach Gibson backs Bishoo to shine in India

NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Taming India’s free-scoring  batsmen on their own patch is considered a visiting slow  bowler’s ultimate test and West Indies coach Ottis Gibson  believes leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo is up to the challenge.

Indian batsmen have traditionally harvested runs against  spin bowling of any description, something that comes as  naturally to them as their vulnerability against short-pitched  seam bowling.

Devendra Bishoo

England’s Graeme Swann, currently the world’s top ranked  spinner, will vouch how arduous the job is, having bled 191 runs  for just two wickets in the four one-dayers in India last month.

Gibson insisted Bishoo would play a prominent in the  three-match test series starting tomorrow, the same day the  spinner turns 26.

“We have to stand up to the challenge that the Indian  (batting) line-up will pose and Bishoo has a major role to play.  He just has to back his ability, believe in himself,” Gibson  told reporters at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium yesterday.

“Obviously he is a very talented bowler. He has already got  32 wickets in seven games in test cricket and he started playing  test cricket in May this year,” Gibson pointed out.

Bishoo’s maiden five-wicket haul earned West Indies a  series-clinching victory against Bangladesh on Thursday and  Gibson was also impressed by the spinner’s approach to his  craft.

“He is still very new to international cricket and learning  all the time,” Gibson added.
“The good thing about him is that he is always prepared to  learn. If he sees somebody he thinks can pass on some  information that would benefit him, he’s not afraid to ask  questions.

“That’s all you ask really from young cricketers. He has  retained the passion to learn. He is improving all the time, he  loves the game. We are very happy to have someone of his ability and  hopefully he will play a major part in this series.”