'We need to improve playing spin and swing' - Nicholas Pooran ahead of Bangladesh ODIs

West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran, ahead of the ODI series against Bangladesh, opined that his team needs to improve its batting against spin and swing in the upcoming series. He feels that West Indies batters were late in reacting to spin or swing in their previous matches. He also spoke about the importance of building partnerships in ODI matches.

Pooran reckons that the team needs to have the right mindset template for the format. He believes that there are many new players in the team and that they need to play more as a group. The first match of the ODI series between the West Indies and Bangladesh will be played on July 10, Sunday, in Providence, Guyana.

“Looking back at the Pakistan series, we as a team obviously reflect, and spoke about the importance of partnerships and about partnership awareness in batting 50 overs,” Pooran was quoted as saying by India Today.

We want to work as a team and try to get better in the series: Nicholas Pooran

West Indies toured Pakistan last month for three ODIs and lost all the matches. Later, in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, Pooran’s side won the series 2-0. “As a batting group we believe that every time the ball is swinging in or the ball has started to spin we reacted very late and this is something we want to work in as a team and as a group and try to get better in the series,” said Pooran.

“I think there’s a lot of new guys in the team and we definitely need to play more as a group. Just have patience. I think the ODI format is just between the Tests and the T20Is and the mindset keeps changing. We just need to have the right mindset and the right template for this format and just stick with it for a bit,” Pooran added.

Following the ODI series, West Indies will host India for three ODIs and five T20Is, later in the month. India have announced their ODI squad, and the team will be led by Shikhar Dhawan in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Other senior players such as Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli have also been rested for the series.