By Anthony Foster, Freelance WriterWEST INDIES captain Brian Lara and his Bangladesh counterpart, Habibul Bashar, yesterday expressed confidence ahead of tomorrow's second and final Cable & Wireless Test set for Sabina Park.
The West Indies skipper was adamant his team would make amends after drawing the first Test against the lowly-ranked visitors. Bashar hit back, saying his team was ready for the challenge.
"I am looking forward to this match and looking to make amends together with a win," Lara said after arriving at the Norman Manley International Airport."
BEST PERFORMANCE
After what he considered his team's best performance in St. Lucia, Bashar said despite talks about a faster Sabina Park pitch, his team was prepared.
"We heard this wicket is fast and bouncy but we are ready for it, definitely, and we are hoping to play better than in St. Lucia.
"If its hard and bouncy for us then it is hard and bouncy for them too," Bashar added.
The Bangladesh captain hinted his side was closer to their first Test win in 30 outings.
"We have been playing better cricket these days," he said. "We keep improving every match."
West Indies and Bangladesh played to a tame draw in St. Lucia on Tuesday, the visitors' second in 29 Tests. Lara said it was a learning experience for his young team.
"Coming out of the game is a learning experience for us once again and I am sure the guys are going to come back fighting hard in Jamaica.
"A lot of people think, 'its Bangladesh', and I suppose we should take advantage but the credit must be given to them as well," the West Indies captain added.
Although he did not favour the pitch, which many observers believed was too flat, Lara blamed his bowlers for Bangladesh's record Test total of 416.
"I also think our bowlers didn't bowl very well in the first innings but I thought they came back very well in the second innings but Bangladesh lower order again showed some fight so coming out of the game we have learnt a lot."
Apart from saying it was a difficult pitch for any fast bowler, Lara believes the inexperience of his bowlers must be taken into consideration.
"They are now learning the trade, they haven't played much first class cricket but we all think going into the last day with six wickets already gone, it would be a way for us to march to victory but Bangladesh's batsmen must be given credit.
"We are a very young team A team has to learn as time goes on and I am sure the guys appreciate the fact that we were out there fighting five days straight."
