We just need to worry about getting ten wickets: Jermaine Blackwood

Jermaine Blackwood, after registering a pair in the first test, top scored for West Indies in the first innings of the second Test on a tricky Sabina Park wicket. The counter-attacking knock was the talking feature of the West Indies innings yesterday.

West Indies, despite his efforts, were bowled out for just 196 runs. Speaking about his knock, Blackwood said, “It is always good to play in front of my home crowd. This is the second time I am playing for West Indies in front of my home crowd. I was feeling confident but I was also a bit tentative at the start because you always want to make runs at your home ground. So it was a good feeling getting some runs today and I was happy that I was able to help the team’s cause and score some runs, just happy to being back in this nick.”

“When I went out he was just giving me a lot of advice about staying positive and running well between the wickets, try to score runs and wear down the bowlers. As scoring chances came I played my shots. If I had come back after lunch it would have been a different ball game because me and Marlon had a nice partnership. For me to get out, it set the team back and put the bowlers back on top. So I guess you have to learn from your mistakes.”

Jason Holder’s decision to bat first seemed to be a bad decision after India’s new ball pair Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami reduced the hosts to 7/3. But, in came Blackwood who began counter-attacking right from the start.

Also, read – Ravichandran Ashwin pleased with five-wicket haul

“Normally at Sabina Park the wicket is going to have a little bit in it for the pace bowlers for a couple hours. This track is different and has some grass so they will get assistance right through the match for pace bowlers. It wasn’t a wrong decision to bat first but we just didn’t bat for a long period. I guess next time we will have to do that.”

“That is just normally how I play, ever since I started playing. So that’s my natural game. I try to score my first 20-25 runs quickly and tried to use the pace of the ball. So that is how Jermaine Blackwood plays his game.”

This attack is a world class attack and you have the Test No.1 bowler, Ashwin and he is very experienced and very good bowler. The seamers are very consistent with their line and length and they are bowling to a plan. So they are playing on our minds. So as batsmen we have to go and counter that and try to go against that plan, assess conditions and score runs at the same time.”

Also, read – Mark my words, Virat Kohli will make 400 plus in a Test match: Kapil Dev

Opener Lokesh Rahul’s unbeaten 75 put India in a command as they reached 126/1 at stumps on day one. The middle order batsman, however, isn’t worried about the Indians having an upper hand over the game. “We just need to worry about getting ten wickets. So the boys will go home and have a good night’s rest and come back fresh tomorrow morning and have a go at them and build some pressure.”