Hooper Defends Decision on Toss

West Indies skipper Carl Hooper defended his decision to put India in to bat as the tourists looked set for a large first innings total in the fourth Test in Antigua.

Left-arm fast bowler Pedro Collins (3-65) was the only bowler to enjoy any success as India reached 226-3 on the opening day at the Recreation Ground.

"We've four fast bowlers and the Indians haven't been batting well, so it wasn't a strange decision," Hooper said.

"When you make decisions, whether they're right or wrong, you've got to stand by them."

Hooper's decision to insert India in the third Test in Barbados paid rich dividends as the tourists were bowled out for 102 on the first day.

The West Indies went on to win the Test by 10 wickets to square the five-match series 1-1.

"After the Barbados Test, we expected some life from the wicket here," Hooper said.

"But at the end of the day, it's still a good cricketing pitch. If you bend your back, the ball will go through quickly. All credit to the Indians. They batted well."

Opener Wasim Jaffer slammed an attractive 86 and Rahul Dravid a solid unbeaten 86, the pair putting on 155 for the second wicket to shatter the Windies' hopes of early wickets.

Collins, however, nearly restored balance when he got rid of Jaffer and Indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar off successive deliveries after tea.

Tendulkar was out first ball, only the fourth time he has been out in such a fashion in his 95-Test career.

"Collins bowled well," added Hooper. "The selectors were justified in going with four fast bowlers.

"People had suggested we should have gone with three pacemen and one spinner. But in a couple of overs of spin that were bowled, the ball didn't turn."

The West Indies captain took encouragement from the opening day, believing early wickets on Saturday could swing the intitiative his side's way.

"We made them work hard for each run as 220-odd for three from 90 overs is a good effort from the bowling side," he added.

"I think anything under 375 would have been a good effort. But cricket is a funny game. A couple of early wickets and you could be looking under 300."

* SOURCE: BBC Sports Online.