CENTURION, South Africa, CMC – Interim head coach Andre Coley believes the three-day warm-up match earlier this week has helped West Indies adapt to the livelier pitches in South Africa, especially coming from the slow tracks which were the hallmark of the series against Zimbabwe earlier this month.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday’s start of the opening Test at SuperSport Park here, Coley said it had been important for his side’s batsmen, bowlers and catchers, to understand the bounce and make the necessary adjustments. “We got some good practice. Obviously we needed to make that adjustment between surfaces in Zimbabwe and here in South Africa, and this game provided that opportunity for us,” Coley said.
“We were able to bat twice on the pitch, albeit in slightly different conditions in both innings. “The bowlers had an opportunity to bowl for most of the day [on day two]. We were challenged by the batters from the South Africa XI so it was a good opportunity to get a run out, assess conditions so from the standpoint it was good.” All-rounder Jason Holder and wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva notched half-centuries in the drawn encounter at Willowmoore Park, while vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood and Kyle Mayers also chipped in with strong knocks.
Uncapped seamer Akeem Jordan and off-spinner Roston Chase both picked up three-wicket hauls while veteran fast bowler Shannon Gabriel claimed a brace, as West Indies players flourished in good conditions. “In most instances, it’s just the adjustment to the type of bounce here,” Coley explained.
“In both innings, you saw there were periods where our batters tried to adjust to that … adjusting to the height of the hands in terms of where to make contact with the ball. “I think this pitch gave us an opportunity to express themselves in terms of our stroke-play. I think going forward now it’s really about marrying that now in terms of the tempo of our innings, how we want to go throughout and ensure that we’re able to set up challenging totals that will put us in a position to challenge for a Test win.” West Indies beat minnows Zimbabwe 1-0 in the recent two-Test series in Bulawayo but now face a sterner challenge against South Africa, ranked fourth in the ICC Test charts.
The Caribbean side, installed in eighth in those rankings, have not beaten the Proteas in a Test series in 24 years and last beat them in a Test match in 2007. Coley, appointed to replace Phil Simmons who resigned following West Indies’ shambolic Twenty20 World Cup exit last November, said preparation in coming days would focus on the finer details. “We want to maintain standards and discipline. [We have to work on] our catching behind the wicket because the ball tends to bounce more consistently here [so] it’s something we have to make sure we’re on top of,” he stressed.
“The lengths that we bowl here, our consistency and making sure we plan well [is also important]. And from a batting standpoint, ensuring that there are consistent partnerships throughout the innings, from the top right through to the bottom.
“So just ensuring that we’re able to tick those boxes and as the game progresses, showing an awareness of what game situation we may find ourselves in and then working together as a team to ensure we tackle that well.”
