Coley, Brathwaite bank on Windies improvement

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

HEAD COACH of the West Indies’ Test team, Andre Coley, believes his players will adjust to whatever conditions they face in the second Test against South Africa, which bowls off today at Providence Stadium.

The two teams played to a draw in a rain-affected first Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on a placid pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers.

Speaking ahead of today’s opening day, Coley said the West Indies were expecting different conditions in Guyana.

“Every Test match is different. We’ve moved to a different location, a different venue in Guyana, so we obviously have to plan to suit based on the conditions that we expect here,” he said.

Reflecting on the first Test, Coley spoke about the performances of debutant Keacy Carty and pacer Jayden Seales.

Carty had knocks of 42 and 31, while Seales grabbed three wickets in South Africa’s first innings.

“There’s been talk about Keacy for some time now. He featured in some ‘A’ team series prior to his inclusion in the first Test and the fact that he plays a similar role in the ODI side, we see it as a straightforward move,” Coley said.

“Yes, obviously we had Kirk McKenzie in that role at the time, but we just thought that Keacy’s inclusion was the right time, and you saw from his intent and how he went about things that he looked quite comfortable.

“Obviously, he has to find his footing, but we’re comfortable he can make that adjustment,” he added.

In relation to Seales, Coley said he had shown that he had the necessary skills to become a world-class fast bowler.

“There’s no doubt that Jayden has a lot of talent. He’s been very good for Sussex in County Cricket, he’s been good for us prior to injury and coming back from injury and he continues to learn.

“Having someone like Kemar [Roach] in the squad and Alzarri was there recently, and Jason [Holder], he has experience within the squad to actually tap into…and he’s constantly learning,” Coley said.

The West Indies will be hoping to record a series win over the Proteas for the first time since 1992, following the drawn first Test in Trinidad.

However, Kraigg Brathwaite said he was looking forward to better execution from his batters and bowlers.

He said, with the pitch at Providence Stadium expected to be slow, a good first-innings total was imperative.

“I think it is important to get a good first-innings total, that’s one thing as a batting group we discussed and, bowling wise, it’s just to be disciplined.

“I think we were decent in the first game and we just have to aim to be better,” Brathwaite told reporters yesterday during a press conference.

Fast bowler Shamar Joseph is the lone addition to the West Indies’ squad, while South Africa have made no changes.