NEWS
Follow UsIndia managed to pick up just four wickets on Day Three and West Indies' defensive approach saw them score just 143 runs to reduce the deficit to 209 runs with five wickets in hand. It was skipper Kraigg Brathwaite who initially kept India at bay with a 235-ball 75 and the rest of the batters including Jermaine Blackwood (20 off 92) and Alick Athanaze (37* off 111) followed the same approach on a flat surface.
While praising his bowlers, India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey admitted that a combination of the flat surface and West Indies' defensive approach will make it tough for his side to pick up 20 wickets and force a result, with just two days remaining.
"The pitch is extremely slow. When we had come in the morning, even Rohit [Sharma] had spoken about it - the ball wasn't seaming or spinning a lot," Mhambrey said at the end of Day Three in Port of Spain.
"It was extremely slow. Towards the end, the ball was turning slightly, but it was very easy for batting. To top it, they were batting extremely defensively. Had they played some shots, maybe there would have been some opportunities to pick wickets.
"But they weren't even trying for that. But to sum it up, our bowlers put in the effort. Whatever was expected from the team and the captain, they fulfilled that."
Mhambrey believes the wickets should be sporting to keep both the batters and bowlers in the game. The first Test saw the wicket being spin-friendly, while the surface produced for the ongoing Test in Trinidad is pretty much flat.
"The wicket should be sporting, where all departments have an opportunity - whether it's batting or bowling. If you go to either extreme... Dominica was turning a bit and we could use that wicket better given the bowlers we had. On this wicket, it will be quite a challenge to pick 20 wickets," Mhambrey said.
"The first challenge would be to bowl them out in the first innings and then see at what stage the game is at. Then we'll reassess what to do in the second innings. These wickets are challenging and will be a lot of hard work for the bowlers. Wickets shouldn't be so flat."
The bowling coach also praised debutant Mukesh Kumar, who picked up his maiden Test wicket dismissing Kirk McKenzie caught behind for 32. "Given the conditions, he has bowled very well," Mhambrey said.
"The way he has gone about, putting everything that he has, is very heartening to see. That's what was from him, by the captain the captain and the team management. That's what we wanted and that's what he has done. The progress he has shown from the first ball and the way he bowled with the second new ball was impressive."
Mhambrey, who has played two Tests and three ODIs for India, feels the first-hour on Sunday (July 23) is going to be key for his side to make inroads. "The first session is important," he said.
"It was heartening to see Siraj and Mukesh swing the second new ball and trouble the batsmen. The first hour in the morning is going to be extremely crucial. If we pick up a couple of wickets and make inroads, we can take the game forward and see where we are going ahead. First hour is going to be crucial. Just hit the right areas, stay patient and make the batsmen play."
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have picked up three wickets between them and will be key on Day Four as India look to force a result to win the series 2-0.
