Ganga: It's a process of improvement
Newly appointed West Indies captain Daren Ganga spoke with the media in Wednesday afternoon prior to the third Test match.
Following are excerpts from his responses to various issues raised with him by journalists.
On the honour of being appointed captain:
It's a huge honour and a huge challenge as well. The circumstances surrounding me being captain wasn't the best. It is unfortunate that our captain got injured but these are situations which we have to deal with as a player and as a senior player because if you look at our side it is very inexperienced. My history captaining my country, Trinidad & Tobago is going to lend help to me. All the guys are really looking forward to this encounter, they have given their full support to me and we're looking forward to starting well in this Test match.
On how the team is regrouping after the Headingley defeat:
It was very important for us to get a lot of positive out of that game (v MCC XI) and we did do that. We had a couple guys getting hundreds and we had Jerome Taylor getting five wickets so we were able to take a lot positives from that game and we're going to use that momentum going into this Test match.
On what specifically has to be done to bounce back from the Headingley defeat:
We've identified areas where we went wrong. It's very important for us to focus on the process of winning a cricket game. We did some of the basics wrong in that Test match. We definitely did not deal with the English conditions well and that is something that we need to adapt better to as a team. It is going to be very important for us to think about the process of cricket – the process of getting partnerships, the process of bowling in partnerships, the process if creating chances for us to get twenty wickets. The series is not beyond us as yet, we've got two opportunities to level the series and maybe win the series. A lot of people have written us off but I think cricket is played on the field and it's about being prepared mentally for the challenges and I'm sure the young guys are looking forward to making a name for themselves.
On whether there may be some changes in the bowling department:
We know the track is very conducive to fast bowling and its got a lot of pace and bounce. We've taken those things into consideration. We've realized that our bowling lacked a little bit of penetration and that is something that we are going to take into consideration before we select our final eleven and I'm sure the best combination is going to come up so that we can get the best chance of winning a Test match. Strong consideration is going to be given to him, Darren Sammy and some of the guys on the bench. That final decision will be made later on tonight.
On the benefit of having Shivnarine Chanderpaul returning to the batting line up:
Shivnarine Chanderpaul is going to be available to play tomorrow so that is going a definite boost for us and our batting. Chris Gayle is definitely going to play but tomorrow an assessment is going to be made as to if he is going to bowl in this Test match. All members of the touring party will be under consideration barring Ravi Rampaul who is suffering with a groin injury so he will not be considered.
On how the team has responded in current difficult period:
One of the things we stressed on was us sticking together as a team and making sure that we supported one another. We know it wasn't the best of circumstances for us as a team in that last Test match to bat with one batter short and losing our captain. It has brought the guys closer and that is something that we took as a positive out of the MCC game. We were able to play together as a team and set ourselves goals and go out and achieve it. It is going to be no different in this Test match. We have outlined what we want to do in this Test match and how we are going to go about doing it. It's a matter of us executing all these plans that we have put into consideration.
On what the focus areas are for the third Test match at Old Trafford:
Our record would show that we have not been doing well in Test matches so it is important that we start this process of improvement and move upward and move forward. We have to understand what is necessary in a Test match, how do we go about playing in a Test match and how do we assess ourselves and show that there is some sort of improvement. If you look at the last Test match our batting failed us, our bowling failed us so we are focused on getting the basics right, we're focused on the process of getting success in these departments, how we go about getting partnerships, the process of building partnerships, the process of guys converting into hundreds, the process of bowling in partnerships and creating chances. We've looked at the personnel that we've got and it's a matter of us trying to identify these people that are going to bring us success.
On whether Ramnaresh Sarwan and him have different approaches as leaders:
Myself and Sarwan laid the ground rules on how we are going to go about doing things on this tour and the guys have virtually seen me in that sort of light and in that leadership role as vice captain. There is nothing different in terms of the approach and the management of the team, the only difference is the way I go about doing things, my unique way, but the foundations remain the same. I have the full support of the guys and we are looking forward to focusing on the actual cricket.