India assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate believes his bowlers will have their work cut out on Day 4 of the second Test against the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, since the surface has slowed significantly.
India took the remaining West Indies wickets in the first innings on Day 3 in relatively quick time.
The tourists managed to add 108 runs to their overnight score before being bowled out for 248. After taking a 270-run advantage in the first innings, India elected to enforce the follow-on. According to Ten Doeschate, the team’s management expected the pitch to deteriorate over the day. The former Netherlands captain was astonished to see the pitch flatten considerably.
“We thought the wicket was going to keep deteriorating and by close of play it would be at its worst. It just seems to have slowed down even more. It’s quite challenging to get any pace up,” Ten Doeschate said at the end of the day’s play.
He explained the problems India faced during the latter half of the day with the ball in hand as Caribbean batters John Campbell and Shai Hope frustrated them with a stunning 138-run partnership.
“Like I said, you have to really fire the ball in. Of course, when you fire the ball in, it’s got less chance of spinning. So, we have had a tricky afternoon. Obviously, monitoring speed is probably the one thing you can play with. You saw every time Washy (Washington) bowled a little bit slower, you get a little bit more turn. Obviously, the batter has a bit more time. So, it’s striking the batter and using the changes in pace to get a mistake out of the batter,” he tried to explain what is doable in this kind of a situation.
Got to be super patient: Ryan Ten Doeschate
Ten Doeschate also praised Campbell, who finished unbeaten on 87, his highest score in Test cricket. The southpaw used the sweep shot to good effect to disrupt the lines and lengths of the Indian spinners.
“It’s just got to be super patient. Obviously, Campbell has swept very well. So, it’s another thing tactically we can look at. Sometimes we expect a lot from our bowlers and sometimes the wickets are a bit unresponsive,” the Dutchman stated.
The West Indies finished Day 3 at 173/2 after being asked to follow-on. Hope has also reached his half-century, and the visitors need only another 97 runs to make India bat for the second time in the Test match.
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