India's bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has dubbed the pitch used for the second Test in Trinidad as "very, very slow for batting" and said that the West Indies batters' unwillingness to play shots is the reason for the lack of the wickets.
India scored 438 after being put into bat first thanks to a century from Virat Kohli and half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, and R Ashwin.
In response, West Indies ended day 3 on 229/5 in 108 overs with Kraigg Brathwaite scoring 75 and Ravindra Jadeja picking two wickets.
"The pitch is very slow, very easy for batting. Towards the end, it started turning a bit. West Indies were defensive with the bat too. When there's an attempt to play shots, there's an opportunity to get a wicket but they didn't even try that.
We were quite impressive, our bowlers did whatever was expected of them though," Mhambrey said at the end of the day's play.
The former Mumbai and India seamer added, "I think the pitch should be sporting. There has to be a balance - something for batters and bowlers." He said taking 20 wickets on this pitch is a difficult proposition.
Yes, Dominica's pitch had turned but we utilized the conditions better, the quality of our bowlers allowed us to use it well. On this pitch though it will be hard to take 20 wickets. The first target is to get them all out in the first innings and then see what lies ahead. Obviously, it's hard work for bowlers on such wickets, but they shouldn't be so flat. It's not entertaining, you want to get results."
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With two days left in the match and West Indies trail by 209 runs, Mhambrey said taking a couple of wickets early on the fourth day morning could help his team.
"We are trying to win the match, go session by session. Will see how it's after the first hour. The ball is still new thankfully. The way (Mohammed) Siraj and Mukesh (Kumar) have bowled and generated swing, looks like we can take wickets. 1-2 wickets early on will throw open the game. We are playing with the mindset to win," he said.
Mhambrey was all praises for debutant Mukesh Kumar, who picked the wicket of fellow debutant Kirk McKenzie for his first scalp in Test cricket.
“I think he bowled very well. Given the conditions and the way he has gone about putting everything behind the ball that is very heartening to see and that is what is expected from him and from the team management this is what we wanted. At least give his best and that’s what he has done.
"I am extremely happy with the progress he has shown from the first ball of the first session he bowled to the second new ball where he showed some signs of moving the new ball it was real quality stuff," Mhambrey said of the bowler.
(PTI inputs)
