West Indies beginning to peak says coach Harper

West Indies coach Roger Harper said his team had tackled all its areas of concern and was starting to peak ahead of the deciding fifth Test against India at Jamaica, which begins on Saturday.

The fourth match at Antigua ended in a tame draw on Tuesday but Harper said there were a lot of positives for the side because the openers had clicked and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs slammed a career-best 118 to strengthen the lower-order.

"I think the areas we were concerned about are finally coming right," Harper said. "If the players play as well as they are capable of playing, we could win in Jamaica."

West Indies amassed 629 for nine in reply to India's first innings 513 for nine declared.

Openers Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds, recalled for this match in place of Stuart Williams, raised 65 to give the West Indies their best start of the series.

"At the end of the Test match in Barbados, our main concern was at the top of the batting order and we had a good start in this match. It was just a pity that one of the openers couldn't carry on and get a century," Harper said.

"Another concern was the lack of runs from the number six position down. But it was really heartening to see Ridley Jacobs score the way we know he's capable of. That adds a lot to the length of the batting."

West Indies had bowled India out for 102 in the first innings to win the third Test at Barbados by 10 wickets to level the series 1-1 after having lost the second match at Trinidad by 37 runs.

TOUGH CONDITIONS

"The fast bowlers have done well so far," Harper said. "We had tough conditions here on a friendly batting pitch but they stuck to their task manfully."

But the main strength for the home side has been their middle-order despite start batsman Brian Lara not contributing much.

Captain Carl Hooper and Shivnarine Chanderpaul have already aggregated 556 and 445 runs respectively in the series and Ramnaresh Sarwan has chipped in with four half-centuries.

Hooper said he would be happier if West Indies ended up winning what has been a dream series for him personally.

"I've said time and time again that the figures and facts are not important for me," he said. "I want to win this Test series more than anything else. Hopefully we'll do that in Jamaica."

The fifth Test starts in Kingston on Saturday and West Indies will be counting on their pace attack.

"All our tactics are based on seamers, we obviously want a wicket that will encourage the fast bowlers," Hooper said. We would like a wicket where if you put something, you get something."

But the 35-year-old said having a spinner in the side might have been beneficial in Antigua.

"Maybe we did miss a spinner but you always seem to be wiser after the event," he said.

"But I don't think there was any great turn or anything on the wicket. The turn was more off the roughs."

Also read:
- Antigua Test ends in a tame draw
- Jacobs dedicates century knock to his mother

Mail Cricket Editor