Wanted for Christmas: some big scores!

The long, hard journey in South Africa has now truly begun and, as I stressed in my last Tour Diary, we in the West Indies team need to be able to walk the walk – not just talk about it.

Being humbled inside three days by South Africa A was definitely not what we would have wanted ahead of our first of three Test matches, starting on Boxing Day. However, there is no point dwelling on the disappointments and mistakes in what we envisioned would be a four-day practice game for us rather than a ten-wicket loss. The most positive response is to use the data from this wake-up call to ensure there’s no repeat of our performance at Buffalo Park in East London.

There were problems in both batting and bowling; the former particularly. Once again a number of batsmen were dismissed cheaply and even those who got a start never went on to score big runs. We need the runs. We have to give the bowlers something to work with when they get the ball in their hands. Posting a total of 193 in our first innings didn’t do us any favours and then to allow the A team to reply with 371 – due in part to some wayward bowling – compounded our troubles.

Finding ourselves at 5 for 2 (with both openers back in the pavilion), and subsequently 53 for 5, in the second innings, left us with little hope of survival and we eventually succumbed, giving the home side a mere 37 runs for victory.

It could have been a much different scenario had some of the West Indies batsmen dug in and occupied the crease longer. Our best contributions came from Runako Morton (54), Darren Sammy (40) and Rawl Lewis (40) in the first innings and then Dwayne Bravo (67) and again Sammy (57) – who celebrated his 24th birthday during the match – in the second innings. Denesh Ramdin also got a start with 35.

Yet, none went on to get that major score to hold either of our innings' together. We must examine and correct that issue in very short order. We cannot afford to get starts and then give our wickets away. When a player scores a fifty, he really should be setting himself up for a century – and that’s what we failed to do. By contrast, the top four scorers for South Africa A had returns of 114, 89, 62 and 54 – making for a solid foundation, thereby giving their bowlers something to work with.

We have had some lengthy discussions and we have acknowledged where we went wrong in the match. Despite being defeated, we are still upbeat and we are working hard to make sure we are ready for the first Test. I hope to play in that game and captain the team. I resumed net practice last week following an injury lay-off after pulling my right hamstring in the second one-dayer versus Zimbabwe on December 2.

So far, I’m feeling pretty good and there’s been no pain, even with running between the wickets. The real test, though, will be to see if I can sprint but I have to be careful as I don’t want to hurt myself and undo all the rehabilitation I’ve undergone. While I am eager to get back on the field, there’s no decision yet on whether I will play or not. We just have to keep monitoring my progress and see how it goes.

I want to close by wishing everyone – especially family, friends and all West Indies fans – a Merry Christmas. Enjoy the ham and other goodies; have a drink for the team and please continue to have faith in us.