It's a favor for us that England are looking at Ashes: Joshua Da Silva

Joshua Da Silva, West Indies’ wicketkeeper-batter in the ongoing Test series in England, reckons his team will take England’s plan to try new players as a favor and an opportunity to come back into the series. 

West Indies are trailing 0-1 after an innings defeat at Lord’s in the first Test. England fielded two debutants in the first Test, the right-arm seamer Gus Atkinson who picked 12/106 and was adjudged the Player of the Match, and Jamie Smith, the wicketkeeper-batter who shone with a knock of 70. 

The first Test saw the retirement of their all-time great seamer, James Anderson who was told by the management that the team is looking to move on, and build a team that can win the Ashes Down Under in the 2025/26 season. 

Da Silva reckons that England’s vision for the Ashes can give the West Indies a chance to return to the series. 

"That's their biggest fixture of their calendar," the 26-year-old said. "If they're looking forward, they're looking to groom some players to make sure they have their team ready for them. I don't think it's wrong of them at all.

"Nah, it doesn't hurt us. I don't study it especially. We still have to play the cricket. If they take us for granted we might get a win, or might win the series. For me, I take that as a favour,” he said. 

West Indies’ batting capitulated in a Day 3 finish at Lord’s. The visitors were bundled out for 121 and 136, not batting 90 overs combined throughout the contest. Da Silva, however, is quite confident that the batters will put up a better show in Nottingham. 

"We are pretty disappointed after the first Test. We have put that behind us, we've had our discussions, and we are looking forward to the second Test. We are doing everything we can, rebuilding, and going hard forward into the next Test.

"It might not look like it, but we've taken a few positives. A lot of guys got starts and just didn't carry on. We talked about soaking up more pressure and how we are going to deal with those situations if we are put in them again. Not losing wickets in clusters.

"It's about reminding ourselves of the process and trusting that process because all of us have a different way of going about it. It's just about trusting our own game and making sure we get the job done,” Da Silva said. 

West Indies’ also suffered an injury scare at Lord’s when the fast bowler Shamar Joseph felt stiffness in his hamstring. The right-arm seamer bowled a few overs in a rain-stricken practice session on Tuesday (July 16). Reflecting on Joseph’s status, Da Silva mentioned the management will be waiting for a green signal from the medical team. 

"He should be good. I am not part of the medical team so I can't really comment. But he bowled a couple in training so I'm sure he will be alright, Da Silva answered on Joseph’s fitness status. 

Like the head coach Andre Coley, Da Silva also felt that the team could draw inspiration from their victory against Australia to level the series earlier this year. 

"It's something we can look at. It happened the same that time in Australia. We came back and we won the Test. If we can replicate that, all of us will be really happy. It's not going to be easy again,” he said. 

The second Test starts on Thursday (July 18) at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. The third Test will be played at Edgbaston from July 26. 

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