Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said that the West Indian strategy of being positive rather than being defensive played right into his team’s game plan in the First Digicel Test match at the Guyana National Stadium.

“We wanted them to play a few shots on this wicket because that’s how we could have created opportunities. That’s why we gave them a target (437) they could have achieved rather than giving them 500 when they would have been in a very defensive frame of mind. We gave them a target thinking this is a target they could chase especially since they have shotmakers,” Jayawaredene said at the post game press conference after he led his team to their historic first Test victory in the Caribbean. Full Story

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com Absolute BS. The only time in the inning when the batsmen looked like attacking was on the afternoon of the 4th day.

Who was out playing shots except Powell?

In reply to anandgb ... Devon and the guy bowled and caught.

In reply to anandgb

Bravo, Powell, Devon Smith, Shamwells (more stupidity shot), Hinds

In reply to natty_forever Those other innings did not even get started.

Yes, Samuels did not seem to understand the requirements.

That was the right strategy, come out and be positive. If we had come out with the intention of batting out the day and a half then we wouldn't have even made it interesting. We were six overs away from drawing the game. Well played windies overall, Samuels should be ashamed of the way he got out in both innings. What on earth was he thinking. I can't knock Devon Smith too much as i didn't expect much from him anyway, but Samuels needs to get his head together for us the win the next match.

In reply to unitsypher

This we were shabby in this game, his comment isn't a negative for us at all. We lost, but I thought, with a few more good knocks, we could have gone for it. After 4 were down, it was time to pull back.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

That's insane. Our batsmen played shots even though we could not win the game. In fact, a more positive approach would have given the Sri Lankans problems because they would not have such attacking field positions all day.

he forgot to add that his team strategy of overappealing and conning the umpires paid off in the end and it gave him, Sarwan, Hinds and Benn for free.

Hey unitsypher...you were bragging a couple weeks ago bout sri lanka unable to beat us in the c'bean?

When you've got Muralitharan & Vaas in your team you can afford to let the other team try playing shots if the target is 437 with 110 overs.

Samuels & Smith showed a lack of patience in their dismissals.

In reply to WICFan ... Smith showed lack of patience, Samuels showed how Dunce he is.

In reply to ends ... he was right at that point in time ... no?

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Sri lanka got lucky. I didn't realize how much they over appeal. WI played poorly

This has been happening for the past decade or so with the exception of Lara and Chanderpaul.

Look, the difference between the WI team and others for example as in this match, is that Vaas and the other opening bowler are not fast bowlers, they are swing bowlers where line and length is of importance. There spinners also were consistent with line and length playing the patience game forcing the batsmen to make the mistake, got twenty wickets and ended up winning the match. This is what was required on a wicket of this nature. There batsmen had that patience and also got the runs. This is what you call having a game plan and executing it effectively.

The WI, bowlers, however, were all over the place too wide and too short that allow the batsmen to release the tension and score runs. No ability to use the brain and patients, as a result unable to get twenty wickets. Our batsmen on the other hand normally do not have patience and could not have adjusted their technique and therefore could not have scored runs because they lack the patience.

They did totally the opposite to what was required. The bottom line is that these guys are just NOT good enough to play test cricket and you can’t blame them for trying.

This is an issue that goes way back in Lloyd days where the WICB failed to put a plan together to develop the sport in the region starting with the youth. They expected the WI to produce players of that nature forever. This is what is hurting WI cricket today.

They need to get the appropriate infrastructure together and start putting plans in place for the development of the young players and the sport (in all aspects such as education, mental development, skill and technique and discipline) in the region without discrimination to Country and Race. If this is done then we should start seeing a difference in about five years from now.

Until then, we the fans have to suffer and exercise the patience game for the players and our team.

“Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”

Somebody needs a lesson on comprehension. Where does he say this?

And if the windies were indeed a bit more positive, perhaps they may have fared better. Sarwan and Bravo had Sri Lanka playing scared.