Kolkata, Nov 17: Bowled out for 153 in the first innings, West Indies showed more determination in the second after being asked to follow-on by India. At the end of Day 3, the visitors had scored 195 for the loss of three wickets. Opener Adrian Barath, who had managed to score just the one run in the first innings, scored a welcome 62.
Excerpts from the end of day press conference:
On the strategy for Day 4
It's important to make India bat again. It will be important tomorrow morning for [Darren] Bravo and [Shivnarine] Chanderpaul to continue. I think they just need to continue batting for as long as possible and make India bat again. We need to bat all day tomorrow.
On West Indies’ improved batting in the second innings
Obviously it was about assessing the wicket. I think we did not bat as well as we should have in the first innings. Basically, we learnt from our mistakes in the first innings and we applied ourselves a bit more.
On West Indies’ chances in the game
Chanderpaul is the key player for us tomorrow. He can bat through tomorrow and make it difficult for the Indian bowlers. He can take the game into the fifth day and make them bat again. He looks very determined, eyeing 10,000 Test runs. He definitely has plans to take the match into the fifth day.
On WI’s batting collapse in the morning session on Day 3
[This was] probably the first time I have ever seen [an 8.30 am start]. Usually warm-up starts at 8.30 am and we were starting the first ball [then]. It was something new for us. Yes, it was a flat track but as I said, we have to apply ourselves.
On the Indian spinners being unable to pick wickets during the second innings
It shows that as a team we are capable of playing spin well; I think it was just a matter of application in the first innings. The conditions were a bit difficult for the openers to bat in the first innings.
On West Indies opener Desmond Haynes, the side’s batting coach
It is a privilege [for us that] someone like Desmond Haynes is part of our team. Being an opening batsman it is great because he has the experience of playing on different wickets around the world against different oppositions. He has the experience and he can add a lot to this team. It's obviously a work in progress and there is nothing overnight he could do as a batting coach. He is doing a good job and definitely it's a step in the right direction. He was a sort of guy who took the bowlers on. He definitely dominated some of the best bowlers in the world. He always tells us to be positive and to not allow the bowlers to get on top of us.
On not not being able to capitalise on an impressive debut
That's something I have been trying to cope with in the past year or so where I have had good starts. Obviously, [it was a] very frustrating period in my career as a young man; just coming into the team and getting a century on debut and not playing consistently as I should have. It is something I have to take into perspective. It's a very difficult period as I have to keep working from strength to strength.
On injury keeping him away for most of the Bangladesh tour
I have been away from International cricket for probably around a month, so it was important for me to get back in the groove. I am thankful for getting a half-century but I think I should have carried on and got a big one.
On pacer Umesh Yadav who dismissed him in the first innings with an edge off a rising delivery
I think he's bowling good line and length. I think he's bowling 90 miles an hour. Any bowler who can bowl at that speed is special. There are not many bowlers around who will bowl at that speed.
