NEWS
Follow UsWest Indies skipper Kieron Pollard wasn't pleased with the quality of the two different surfaces used during the three-match One-Day International series against Australia at Kensington Oval, Barbados. The hosts managed scores of 123, 191/6 and 152 in the three encounters and lost the series 2-1.
Most of the Australian and West Indies batsmen struggled to get going because of sharp spin and variable bounce on offer. West Indies went down by six wickets in the series decider on Monday (July 26) and the 34-year-old later said that the surfaces used were "unacceptable for international cricket".
"Obviously, we didn't bat well. Yes, the wicket was a bit tacky but not losing early wickets was the key. Not getting partnerships is what has been haunting us for a while. If we had got a 220 score on that pitch, it could have been different," Pollard said at the post-match presentation.
"I accept we batted badly and coming from a T20I series you gotta make some adjustments in this format and try and apply yourself. I think both teams struggled with the bat on this surface and I think that's unacceptable for international cricket.
"We aren't going to give excuses. We accept the fact that we batted badly, but the scores in this series, with two top international sides, that's very embarrassing for us as people. Coming from St Lucia, I think it's absolutely ridiculous. I don't want to go on and on... as that might make some headlines, but Australia has been better than us."
Mitchell Starc took three wickets but it was Ashton Agar who was named Player of the Match. The spin-bowling all-rounder took two crucial wickets in the first innings and finished with figures of 2/31. Agar then also chipped in with a handy cameo of 19* and put on an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 54 with Matthew Wade to take Australia through what could have been a tricky chase.
"The good part is it was pretty favourable conditions for the spinner. You just had to get your length right. As long as you were hitting the stumps to the right-hander and pitching the ball on the spot where, to the left-hander, it was going to spin in and hit the stumps, bringing all modes of dismissal in," said Agar.
"That’s all you can do and you let the pitch go to work. Bowling a bit quicker worked nicely. You don’t get many pitches like that and I hope we end up seeing a lot more like that in the future. It’s always nice to do it in the last game of a series you really want to win.
"We’ve been away a long time, you’re cooped up in your rooms and you just want to come out and win. Personally, it’s pleasing but I’m much happier to go and celebrate with the boys later."
Meanwhile, stand-in captain Alex Carey was pleased with the way Australia went about their business in the decider. "Personally and collectively, it's exciting (to win a series). It's tough leaving home in a pandemic. The commitment that these guys showed was great to see and getting a result in our favour was great.
"It's nice to represent the country and then captain it. Fantastic group effort. The bowlers did a great job. There were some good innings in the series. A bit ugly today but to get a score like that on that pitch, you have to be a bit ugly."
