Windies hoping for win in Third Test

West Indies will be looking to win the third cricket Test against South Africa, which enters its second day today.

West Indies coach Bennett King was not too distraught about the defeat in Trinidad because he felt the side played competitively for most of the match. {{more}}

“If you look at the intricacies of the game, I do not believe it was an easy win for South Africa,” he said.

King had two days to work with the side prior to the third Test and he revealed that the sessions were intensive and they got plenty done.

“We worked very hard with the bowlers and eliminating the no-ball problem that has plagued us in the first two Tests,” he said.

“We had the two match umpires come to the training ground and officiate for us, and they were very happy. They told us it was one of the best training sessions, in terms of no-balls, because only one was bowled, so I am very happy there.”

He added: “We have been working technically with some of the batsmen on their shot selection, and also try to work hard on their concentration level.

“Sir Garfield Sobers has been around and he has been very helpful with some of those things. He has been reinforcing some of the things we have been trying to tell the players.”

King outlined that the coaching staff had been reviewing the video footage of the first two Tests and recognised that the no-ball problem stemmed mostly from the stride patterns of the bowlers.

West Indies delivered 63 no-balls in the previous two Tests.

“We recognised that the stride patterns were totally awry, particularly at the start of the bowlers’ run-ups,” he said.

“We recognised they were not as regular as they were when they played in previous matches like in Australia. We reviewed and found out what were some of the main issues, and today we are comfortable with what we have been seeing in practice.”

Two changes were likely to for the West Indies line-up. Left-hand slow bowling all-rounder Ryan Hinds and fast bowler Fidel Edwards replacing Donovon Pagon and the injured Pedro Collins.

The match will feature Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Courtney Browne (vice

captain), Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Powell, Reon King, Fidel Edwards, Dwight Washington.

And Graeme Smith (captain), Nicky Boje (vice captain), Mark Boucher, Abraham de Villiers, Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Jacques Rudolph, Monde Zondeki for South Africa.