West Indies will go into Tests with confidence, says Smith

Devon Smith has said that West Indies' performance in the NatWest Series, in which they beat England in two of the three games they played against each other, means they will go into the first Test with plenty of confidence.

"I think we have so far shown an improvement from the one-dayers and we want to take that into the Tests," said Smith, adding: "After the one-dayers, you've got to recondition to five-day cricket and you have got to be more patient. What is important for us, if we get a good start, is that someone in the top order has to stay and bat through the innings so you have still someone to depend on all the way through."

Smith also urged West Indies to be more ruthless in the field, and blamed their 3-0 defeat in the Caribbean earlier this year on an inability to dominate the opposition for long periods of time.

"At certain times in the Caribbean, England played better cricket than us. We don't deny that. But we were also on top at times and allowed England to get back into the game. That is the area where we let things slip and we know that has to improve," he explained. "We have to pull together and come strongly at England this summer and, when we are on top, we have to push home the advantage. We have been working on that. When on top, you have to stay on top as long as possible and be ruthless."

Smith, who scored 142 against MCC at Arundel earlier this week, added that it was his job to stay at the crease as long as possible. "I see it as very important that I stay at the crease as long as possible and see what the ball is doing," he said. "I see that as my role, to stay in as long as I can. I know that if I get my eye in and occupy the crease, there will be a lot of runs there for me to score."

Smith also warned England not to underestimate the inexperienced West Indian side, saying: "We are coming here to win, to play hard cricket to the best of our ability, and we're looking to improve game by game."

West Indies' last warm-up game before the first Test, against Sri Lanka A at Shenley, starts on Saturday (July 17).