Decision to bat first not correct, concedes Chappell

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

St John's, Antigua, Jun 4 (UNI) Team India coach Greg Chappell has admitted that the decision to bat first in the ongoing first Test against West Indies was not correct and that Rahul Dravid's men will have to come out all guns blazing in the second innings to make up for the poor batting in the first and stay in the match.

After India were all out for 241, West Indies cruised to 318 for six at the end of second day taking a 77-run lead in the process.

''I think conditions weren't easy to bad yesterday. We batted first and in hindsight that was not the right idea. May be 300 was the more likely score that we should have made,'' Chappell said.

Chappell, however, was optimistic about India's cchances in the match and said the match was still on.

''The Test match is still to be won. We need to play well and it hopefully it would be a good day for us tomorrow. We have to play well, take the remaining wickets early and bat well in second innings. What is required is very good batting performance,'' he said.

On Irfan Pathan being ''rested'', the Indian coach said the seamer would figure in the later matches.

''I am quite confident he will regroup and would come good. He sure would play a part in the series but under these conditions we thought that the other options were more suitable,'' he explained.

Chappell also said the pitch still assisted new ball bowlers and the Indian attempts to cut the West Indies innings short were largely thwarted by opener Chris Gayle who bludgeoned the Indian attack to score a 91-ball 72.

Meanwhile, Gayle said attacking Indian seamers was part of his plans.

''We knew that the bowlers were in-inexperienced and so we wanted to put pressure to see if they would crumble. It was our game-plan to attack. The Indian bowlers' inexperience went in my favour as I got lots of opportunities to swing my arms,'' said Gayle.

The Jamaican powerhouse said he felt bad that he was out after being set.

''Yes I am disappointed to not get a hundred and to get out at a crucial time. Eventually the wicket eased out. The lead is substantial but we lost too many wickets,'' he said.

UNI XC PM BST-955

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