Ishant Sharma calls for positivity ahead of second Test

India’s premier pacer Ishant Sharma has called on his fellow pacers to be “positive and ruthless” ahead of their encounter against the West Indies in the second Test scheduled to take place in Jamaica. The first Test saw the Indians thrash the Windies by an innings and 92 runs in the first Test at Antigua. Although Ishant was not as successful as he would have liked to be, Sharma will have a chance to redeem himself in the following Test.

Asked about the mantra, Ishant told bcci.tv, “We have to be ruthless and play positive cricket. The rest we have to assess as to how the game progresses and plan according to the situation.”

Sharma also pointed out that the West Indies players found it difficult to face the short-pitched deliveries as well as getting foxed by the spin of Amit Mishra and Ravi Ashwin. The latter concluded the second Test as the man of the match and made an impact with the ball concluding with figures of 7/83 in the second innings of the match.

“West Indies batsmen struggled against short-pitched deliveries. We bowled according to a plan. We bowled short and mixed with fuller length deliveries. On a pitch where nothing happens, you need to be consistent. Umesh and Shami bowled well in the first innings and Ash (Ashwin) and Mishy (Mishra) did well in the second innings. I got one wicket in this match but maybe in the next, it will be my turn to get more wickets,” said the lanky pacer.

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“If the captain says that you need to enforce the follow-on, then we have to be ready. It is all about fitness. We were not at all tired,” said Ishant.