'A Stand Was Due'

It just would not be right to comment on the Rajkot game without mentioningthe terrible outcome because of fans' unrest in the stands. There has beentrouble beyond the fence in all the three one-day games so far and we thought weneeded to drive home our point of view. A stage had come when a stand was due.As a West Indies captain, I have little doubt we needed to make the difficultchoice.

The game itself was notable for the fine form of our batsmen as well as theexplosive century which Virender Sehwag belted around the park. We managed toget him cheaply in the first two games but here he seized his moment on a goodbatting track in his own inimitable style.

He knows only one way and it is totake the leather off the ball. His is a style which is quite similar to men whowield willow in the Caribbean, one of pure aggressive intent and purpose.

Sehwag and Saurav Ganguly were able to provide the Indians with a dream startin their quest for a formidable 300-run target.

Even when conditions are right, the batters still need to spend time at the crease and concentrate for longperiods to make a successful bid at a huge target. The two Indian openers wereable to do it perfectly.

Ganguly too looked good for a hundred and astonishment was writ large on hisface when Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught him so spectacularly in the 70s. Thisright-left combination likes to attack at all times and their dissimilar methodscan drive a bowler up the wall.

Harbhajan Singh made quite a recovery in this game after two forgettableoutings. I guess if he is able to bowl his quota of overs for 45-50 runs on thistrack he would have done a good job.

These are placid surfaces and it is justnot possible for a spinner to avoid pounding. Still he came off with his creditrestored. I was surprised at Anil Kumble's omission though, but the Indian selectorsmust have had their own reasons for it.

I was disappointed I couldn't play the game because the series has tilted ourway and any win from now on would make it extremely difficult for the Indians. Idesperately wanted to play the game but my fitness wasn't up to it.

It is to thecredit of our batsmen that they haven't let the absence of Brian Lara or my ownlack of big scores come in way of piling up huge totals everytime we've batted.

Chris Gayle has come a long way in this tour and so has Ramnaresh Sarwan.Shivnaraine Chanderpaul continues to be the pillar of strength in our line-up.Marlon Samuels is another youngster who has caught eye with his style of playand mental approach.

After the frustration of the Test series, we are in theprocess of redeeming ourselves in the shorter format of the game.

I am looking forward to playing in the day-night game at Ahmedabad because itis absolutely the crunch game. To my mind, it is the final of the series.

If we can win tomorrow, the Indians would have little option but to win all theremaining games to claim the series. It would mean enormous pressure on them.

I am keen to be around to ensure we seize our moments tomorrow.

PTI