As the West Indies players assemble this morning in Barbados for a pre-tour camp, former Test captain Denesh Ramdin says that he is not under any pressure.
Ramdin, the solid wicketkeeper/batsman said: “I am looking forward to the camp and getting in some work before the tough Sri Lankan series comes up. It is going to be a very tough tour because the conditions are tough and we have to do as much work going into the series, if we stand a chance of doing well.”
Ramdin was removed as West Indies Test captain after 14 matches and 15 months in charge and has been replaced by Jason Holder, who is also ODI captain. The West Indies will play two Test matches, three ODIs and two T20s on the tour which officially opens with the first Test match on October 14 at the Galle International Stadium.
Ramdin was told by the West Indies selectors that they wanted him to concentrate on his batting. Ramdin believes he can deliver with the willow in Sri Lanka. “I feel good at the moment, looking to hit some balls and get my game going. It will be important to spend time at the crease and forge partnerships with whoever is batting with me.”
Asked whether he is feeling pressured by the presence of two other wicketkeeper/batsmen in the form of Shane Dowrich and Shai Hope in the squad, Ramdin responded: “I am not feeling any pressure at all. They might be under more pressure than me because they have less experience and they will be batting higher up the order.”
He added that he will extend his fullest support to Holder and looks forward to the challenge ahead. “Jason is a good guy, I advised him on many things during the World Cup and I intend to do my part in this series. He is a young captain and needs all the support he can get in order to make a difference.
“The senior men on the team have to make their experience count for him and people like Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Kraigg Brathwaite and myself have to make sure we have good totals. Then the bowlers like Devendra Bishoo must lead the charge.
“Bishoo is a key man in those conditions for us and he has been bowling very well, so we need to back him up and look to take the fight to the home team.
“I think we have the all round strength to beat this team and we are going to give it our best efforts.”