Saturday, March 7 – Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad: Windies Head Coach, John Dyson, has defended the West Indies’ team selection and tactics on day one of the decisive 5th and final Digicel Test against England at the Queen’s Park Oval.
The West Indies, leading the series 1-0, chose to boost their batting with the inclusion of Lendl Simmons while left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn was omitted.
It meant that captain Chris Gayle and fellow part-timers Ryan Hinds and Brendan Nash delivered 53 of the day’s quota of 90 overs as the home team adopted a defensive approach.
“It was a difficult day. The wicket, as you know, is very slow,” Dyson said after play. “We had a reasonable day. I’m not totally happy with it but a reasonable day.”
The West Indies, after losing the toss, were made to toil in the field as England, on the back of another century from their skipper Andrew Strauss, totaled 258 for two by stumps.
Dyson admitted that winning the series was the major focus but that his team was not just playing to draw the Test match: “We’re trying to get opportunities to win it. But obviously we’re not going to totally make the pace of play.
“We’re in the position we’re in (1-0 up in the series) and we’re quite happy to maintain that position. If we get a chance to win we’ll go and try and win it.”
Dyson also revealed that the decision to drop Benn, who took eight wickets in the victory in the first Digicel Test in Jamaica, was a tough one: “It was a very difficult decision that the panel made there. There was a lot of discussion about that particular spot. It was decided that on two occasions on dry, flat wickets he (Benn) didn’t really go through the England batting. In Jamaica, where the wicket offered him a lot more bounce and sharp turn, most definitely.
“But these wickets since haven’t been like that so we decided, on this occasion, that we’d go for the extra batsman.”
Dyson also explained the omission of Jerome Taylor due to an ankle injury: “We were confident that Jerome would be OK but he didn’t pull up as well as we hoped.
“The decision not to play him was made because he’s carrying two little niggles. If it had been one, we probably would have chanced it, but with two you just can’t take the risk.”
Dyson also said that the fitness of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who limped off the field midway through day one, would be monitored closely: “There is a little tear in the groin,” Dyson said of his premier batsman’s injury. “We’re hopeful it’s not too bad and it will depend on how he pulls up after a night’s rest.”
