Windies ready for series decider – skipper

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

WITH EVERYTHING on the line to play for, West Indies One-Day International (ODI) captain Shai Hope has given the assurance that his troops are physically and mentally prepared for today’s series decider against England at Kensington Oval.

The three-match series is tied at 1-1 after West Indies won the opening ODI by eight wickets, only for England to execute a superb run chase and claim victory by five wickets in the second on Sunday.

Speaking during a pre-match interview at Kensington Oval yesterday, Hope said the regional team understood the game’s magnitude, as they seek their second successive ODI home series win over their archrivals.

“It’s the series decider and the biggest game of the series. Unfortunately, we conceded last game but it’s a great occasion for us and we understand that.

“We’ve got a lot in front of us and we understand that we have to play good cricket to get over this England team,” Hope told reporters.

He said the mood in the camp was upbeat and the guys were “raring and ready” to take the field at the Mecca.

“We’re always mentally ready. I just think that, over the last few years, well, I would say more so in recent months, we’ve been playing some really good cricket,” Hope said.

“We’ve had our ups and downs but I can definitely see some improvement at stages in the game. I think, for us, we have to ensure that we always have that positive mindset, regardless of what we do in the field, believe in our skills and understand that we’re doing everything to ensure that we have all of the capable assets to go out there and perform for the West Indies.

“But the feeling is always good, the guys are raring and ready to go. We understand what is at stake, a series decider, so it’s a final for us tomorrow,” he added.

Hope, who scored a sensational century in a losing cause in the last ODI, maintained that the Windies needed to be more consistent with both bat and ball.

He said while England’s ODI side was “very young and very inexperienced” they were still playing good cricket and the West Indies needed to be at their best if they were to be victorious.

“In order to consider us a great team or an elite team, we’ve got to be consistent, we have to string performances together. It can’t always be a one game or a two game in a series. We have to make sure that we seal it, we have to play good cricket all the way through …” Hope contended.

“We’ve got to be more consistent, disciplined with our skills, and make sure that, when we get to those crucial moments in the game, we grasp them.”