1st Test - England v West Indies

CANTERBURY, England, (CMC) – Assistant coach Toby Radford has urged the West Indies batsmen to make critical adjustments to their technique in order to succeed in the challenging English conditions.
Radford, who hails from Wales, warned that conditions were often seamer-friendly and it was therefore important the tourists made the most of their second three-day first-class match against Kent starting Sunday, in order to continue their acclimatisation process.
The Windies played well in the first warm-up match against Essex last week, and will look for another solid workout when they face a Kent side led by England limited overs batsman Sam Billings.

“The conditions in England, generally you get a lot of swing and seam. You think the ball is there to drive and then it dips and nips away, so what we’re urging is to play as late as possible and as straight as possible.
“We know the conditions and we know what to expect. The last few days we have worked really hard and our preparations are coming along quite well.”
West Indies arrived in England last Saturday and opened their tour a few days later against Essex at Chelmsford where they impressed in the outing.

Roston Chase, one of the rookie batsmen on tour but who is expected to be a key member of the line-up, gathered half-centuries in the contest to immediately find his touch.
The 25-year-old has played just 10 Tests but was the leading scorer in the recent three-Test series against Pakistan when he stroked 403 hundreds at an average of a 100, including two centuries.
Only three members of the Windies 15-man squad – Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Kieran Powell – have played a Test in England before but Radford said despite the inexperience, confidence was still very high.

“We have a young side and we have a very talented side. We really believe we are developing and there is huge confidence in the dressing room,” he explained.
“We are not the finished article, there is still a lot of work to be done but I believe in this team we have players who will entertain and show the world what we’ve got.”
Following the upcoming match, West Indies will play a third three-day warm-up match against Derbyshire – a day/night contest using the pink ball as the visitors prepare for the first Test match under lights in England at Edgbaston starting August 17.

CANTERBURY, England—With two half-centuries in four innings on tour, in-form stroke-maker Jermaine Blackwood says he feels in great touch as he gears up for the opening Test against England later this month.

The right-hander struck exactly 50 on Sunday’s opening day of the three-tour match against Kent here, following up his 59 against Essex in the first tour game at Chelmsford.

“[I’m] feeling pretty good, feeling 100 per cent, feeling ready to go,” the Jamaican said.

“I think all the boys are ready. We have been training pretty hard and everybody is excited about the first Test match.”

He added: “[It’s] my first time to England, first time playing here. Different conditions but learning as the days go by. [I’m] putting in a lot of work with the coaches [and] getting used to the conditions.”

Blackwood lost his place in the Test squad recently, failing to find favour in the recent three-Test home series against Pakistan.

However, he opened the current tour with an attacking half-century against Essex and followed up with another handsome effort against Kent, though the innings was a patient one requiring some graft.

The 25-year-old said conditions last weekend had demanded he make adjustments to his usually aggressive approach.

“[Last Sunday] was a perfect example. The ball was swinging around so I knew I had to trust my defence and just play each ball on its merit,” Blackwood explained.

“The pitch had in a lot of moisture so the ball wasn’t coming through like at Essex so you had to wait a little more longer, you had to play the ball right under your eyes. I just have to spend a little more time out there in the middle.”

It was his 70-run fifth wicket stand with Shai Hope in challenging conditions which pulled West Indies around from 78 for four on the first morning.

Hope top-scored with 57 to also extend his healthy form on tour that has already brought him 155 runs from four innings, and Blackwood praised his junior teammate on the effort.

“Shai was batting good. He was giving me some good advice when I first came out to bat,” Blackwood said.

“At the time when I went out there we had just lost a wicket and I just told Shai we need to build a partnership and once we can get a partnership together, we know the runs are going to come.”

West Indies face Derbyshire in their third three-day tour match starting tomorrow. The day/night affair will be in preparation for the first Test at Edgbaston beginning August 17, which will be the inaugural ‘pink ball’ Test in England. CMC