BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – West Indies skipper Denesh Ramdin is expecting a special performance from his team in what he described as a special occasion at Kensington Oval.
Speaking ahead of the third Test, the wicket-keeper said it would be great to win the match and clinch the series against New Zealand in what is the 50th Test match at the historic ground.
First ball on Thursday is 10 am (9am Jamaica Time).
“Kensington Oval is one of those special grounds … a place where you always look forward to coming and playing. It is one of the top grounds around the West Indies and in the world and we will be looking to do something special to mark the landmark of 50 Test matches here,” Ramdin told reporters.
“I have done well here – I made my highest score Test score here against England and my highest first-class score for Trinidad & Tobago here as well. So personally, I always look forward to coming to Barbados and playing here. It is a good hunting ground for me and once I get that opportunity I will look to bat ‘time’ and get the runs on the board for my team.”
Ramdin’s 166 against England in 2009 is the joint highest score by a West Indian wicket-keeper. In that match the Windies made 749-9 declared – the highest score at the ground. The first Test match at the Oval was between West Indies and England back in 1930. West Indies have played 49 matches – 22 wins, 10 defeats and 17 draws.
Ramdin also noted that a win would seal a remarkable come-from-behind series triumph after the Windies went 0-1 down after the first Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica. They rebounded brilliantly at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and will start Thursday on a high.
“It is very important that we start well. Whether we bat or bowl first we have to make sure we gain that early momentum and apply early pressure. They (New Zealand) will come out fighting. They have won one game and we have won one game so we will go out and give 100 per cent,” said the 29-year-old.
“It was important that we won in Trinidad, but what was also important was that we put in an impressive display. We dominated … we got good runs on the board and then our bowlers got 20 wickets, which was also very good.
“It was a hard fought Test match and we will bring that with us. We will look to put everything together and look to win again here in Barbados. We have to get it right again and celebrate this special occasion with our fans and supporters.”
FULL SQUAD
Denesh Ramdin (Captain)
Sulieman Benn
Jermaine Blackwood
Kraigg Brathwaite
Darren Bravo
Shiv Chanderpaul
Kirk Edwards
Shannon Gabriel
Chris Gayle
Jason Holder
Leon Johnson
Shane Shillingford
Kemar Roach
Jerome Taylor
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Ottis Gibson (Head Coach)
Sir Richard Richardson (Team Manager)
Sir Curtly Ambrose (Bowling Consultant)
Stuart Williams (Assistant Coach)
Andre Coley (Assistant Coach)
C.J. Clark (Physiotherapist)
Hector Martinez Charles (Strength & Conditioning Co-ordinator)
Richard Berridge (Video & Statistical Analyst)
Philip Spooner (Media Manager)
Virgil Browne (Massage Therapist)
SERIES SCHEDULE
June 8-12: First Test – New Zealand won by 186 runs at Sabina Park, Jamaica
June 16-20: Second Test – West Indies won by 10 wickets at Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad
June 26-30: Third Test – Kensington Oval, Barbados
July 5: First T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica
July 6: Second T20I – Windsor Park, Dominica
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