Gibson: We have momentum and confidence

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Having achieved a hard-fought, series-levelling win in the second Test match, West Indies Head Coach Ottis Gibson is urging his team continue the good work against New Zealand in the third and final match.

Gibson said it was pleasing to see the “highly impressive response” in the second match at Queen’s Park Oval Trinidad after the home side lost the series opener at Sabina Park, Jamaica.

The two teams will now meet in the third and decisive Test at Kensington Oval, Barbados, starting on Thursday. First ball is 10 am (9 am Jamaica Time).

The West Indies selection panel retained the same 14-man squad which won in Trinidad and Gibson said the home side is confident following the victory.

“To win by ten wickets was brilliant and we are looking forward to the next Test match and five intense days of Test cricket. That victory, the way it was achieved, has given us momentum and you know momentum is a big thing in sports. It has also given us confidence,” Gibson said.

“I think the Test cricket that we played in Trinidad, that is the sort of Test cricket that we want to play. Obviously the opposition is not going to allow you to play that sort of cricket all the time but that’s the cricket we want to play and that’s what we will set out to do.

“After Jamaica we were obviously very disappointed with how we performed, and we sat and spoke about the response that was needed and it was good to see them respond.”

Gibson said he was impressed with the batting, especially young right-hander Jermaine Blackwood, who played with freedom in his first Test match.

“Kraigg Brathwaite got a very good maiden Test hundred and Darren Bravo also played well for his century on home soil, the way Shiv continues to play with assurance, and the way Kirk Edwards played in a positive manner, was great.

“The batsmen spent a lot of time at the wicket and made runs. Jermaine Blackwood has been making a lot of runs this year and we gave him an opportunity and he came in and played really positively and was a joy to see.

“At the end to see the way Chris Gayle went out with positive intent that sent a strong positive message to New Zealand. He played the way only he can and took the game by the scruff of the neck and took it away from them. That was great to see and gives us momentum heading into this match which will decide the series.”

Gibson added that he was delighted with the bowling unit – which dismissed the visitors twice on a surface that was good for batting.

“I thought the bowlers bowled well in Jamaica and we backed it up in Trinidad on a pitch where we had to work really hard. All in all it was a very good response and we’ve just got to move on now. It was a pitch on where we had to work very hard. Jerome Taylor has been a very good leader of our attack and everyone has confidence from the win in Trinidad and the ultimate goal is to win the series,” he said.

FULL SQUAD
Denesh Ramdin (Captain)
Sulieman Benn
Jermaine Blackwood
Kraigg Brathwaite
Darren Bravo
Shiv Chanderpaul
Kirk Edwards
Shannon Gabriel
Chris Gayle
Jason Holder
Leon Johnson
Shane Shillingford
Kemar Roach
Jerome Taylor

TEAM MANAGEMENT
Ottis Gibson (Head Coach)
Sir Richard Richardson (Team Manager)
Sir Curtly Ambrose (Bowling Consultant)
Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach)
Andre Coley (Assistant Coach)
C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist)
Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Co-ordinator)
Richard Berridge (Video & Statistical Analyst)
Philip Spooner (Media Manager)
Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist)

SERIES SCHEDULE
June 8-12: First Test – New Zealand won by 186 runs at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 16-20: Second Test – West Indies won by 10 wickets at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
June 26-30: Third Test – Kensington Oval, Barbados
July 5: First T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica
July 6: Second T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica