Richardson wants intent against spin

Richie Richardson, the West Indies manager, has said his team's batsmen have to be positive against spin if they are to get close to India's first-innings score of 631 for 7 at Eden Gardens. West Indies lost 16 wickets to India's spinners R Ashwin and Prayan Ojha during their loss in Delhi and the way they handle them could be the key to avoiding another defeat.

"We have to bat positively; if you are batting on a turning wicket and if you just stay in there the bowlers are going to get on top of you," Richardson said after the second day of play in Kolkata. "You have to show intent and not just wait for bad balls as there aren't going to be too many bad balls from India. You have got to take it to them. That is not to say you play rash shots; it's just that you have to keep looking for ways to score runs."

West Indies lost two wickets in the 12 overs they had to negotiate at the end of the second day but Richardson remained confident his side could match India's batting effort. He said his bowlers had not really bowled that badly and it was just the conditions that made it hard to take wickets, so there was no reason his batsmen should not post a big total.

"We've just got to bat the way India batted. It's a very good batting wicket. I noticed that the first day I came here. It's not going to be easy and India's bowlers are going to push us but I believe we have the ammunition to go out and bat for the next two days. Usually, when you think about such a big total you are going to go 'Wow, that's going to be difficult.' But then you assess the situation and tell yourself we can do it too. If two guys get stuck in there and score centuries then you can bat yourselves to a very good position.

"I wouldn't say our bowling was not up to the mark. The India batsmen made full use of a very good batting track. It was always tough for our bowlers. They have bowled really well for the entire year; we haven't let ourselves down."

Fourteen overs of play were lost due to poor light on the second day at Eden Gardens. Though the early finish might have come as a relief for West Indies who were tottering at 34 for 2, Richardson said he was in favour of using floodlights for Test cricket when needed.

"I believe in using technology when it is going to assist you. When you have lights, you can use them. People want to see cricket and as a player you want to be out there as long as possible. If they have lights the only thing likely to make you come off is rain."