We had a winning mindset - Sammy

Darren Sammy, West Indies' new captain, was thrilled with the way his team dominated the first Test against Sri Lanka, which ultimately ended in a draw at Galle. "We couldn't dictate the next step, but I know this result will give our guys confidence ahead of the next Test. We came here with a winning mindset. We did everything that we were supposed to do in this Test match. We had a good chance of winning by putting some pressure on them."

He was especially pleased with the way the bowlers stuck to their task on a wicket that wasn't offering much assistance. "I must commend the bowling unit for sticking out there. They created the opportunities and their effort was good. Unfortunately we didn't get the ten wickets we wanted, but all in all, it was a job well done."

Sammy said that as a batting unit, the team had achieved their targets every day, and "to score 580 for nine and declare was quite amazing". However, he conceded that the middle order needed to perform better. He also rued the fact that he did not have another spinner to support Shane Shillingford. Left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn had to sit out the Galle Test because of a one-match ban earned for an altercation with fast bowler Dale Steyn during the third Test against South Africa in Barbados in June.

"Shane is really a workhorse," Sammy said. "When he gets the ball he doesn't want to put it down. A guy with an attitude like that augers well for the future. We also have Benn available for us in the next Test. All in all we have plenty of positives.

"Benn obviously he has been our best bowler in Test cricket in the last year. We did miss him. But it was good to see without our number one bowler others taking 14 Sri Lankan wickets."

Sammy admitted a win would have been the icing on the cake for him in his first Test as captain. "It's still a learning experience for me at international level. I must commend my team mates for making the job a little easier the way they went out there and performed. I am asking them to be hungry and be consistent and look to improve on whatever we do."