Jamaica, June 23: Having lost the first Test of the three-match series on the fourth day, West Indies captain Darren Sammy praised his bowlers in a post-match media interaction for their efforts. Hoping to level the series at Barbados, he stressed that WI needed to improve their batting if they were to win a Test match.

Excerpts from the media interview:

On West Indies’ batting

It showed again today if we bat properly we could come out victorious. Our bowling has been holding its own. [We have to] just focus on the batting [and] we need to click together.

On the regular collapse of the batting order

As batsmen, when we go out there, we have to focus and be more mentally tough. [We have to] play [according] to the situation, think of the team and hopefully we could come out victorious.

On not being able to capitalise on the early wickets during India’s first innings

We didn’t bowl as well as we should have to Harbhajan [Singh]. We had a plan but we didn’t execute [it] properly. He came out and played very positively and played some good shots. We acted too late and that was a crucial moment when he came. We should [have] got to 246 [runs] on a good wicket, [but] we only got 170-odd [runs]. The batting - we should get that area proper and we could come out victorious.

On Devendra Bishoo

He’s been a very good [addition] to the team effort. Since the World Cup he’s been doing well. He is very capable [and] can bat as well. [We] can’t fault the effort of the bowlers. Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards keep coming out there and doing the job for the team. We just want to commend the bowlers for the effort.

On the next match at Barbados

We have seen what we are capable of doing and if [we can] correct that one aspect of our game, we could put India under pressure. So we are looking forward to Barbados and hopefully we could level the series there.