Facing defeat, West Indies look to set up the pace

Cricket tours are no longer an adventure into the unknown as international teams are familiar about each other and about each other’s backyards. Still India’s young team will have a fresh challenge on their hands when they face a beleaguered West Indies in the third ODI at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Saturday.

Another victory for India will help them sew up the series 3-0 with two games to go.

Roach impressed with his accuracy and sharp pace even on the slow pitches during the World Cup and should look forward to extracting help from this pitch. “In the last Twenty20 game, it had pace and bounce. It didn’t spin much. Hopefully the groundsmen will prepare something that suits us and make us feel like a home series for us,” Sammy said after the second ODI. India have not been involved in any of the eight ODIs played on this ground.

Indian skipper Suresh Raina will have the opportunity to play paceman Ishant Sharma as well as offie R Ashwin. Sharma is yet to play a game in this series and Ashwin figured in the T20 win. With both part of the Test squad which has been depleting by the day, the management may look into the option of fielding them.