BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – John Dyson felt his bowlers did a reasonable job on the opening day of the fourth Test against England yesterday.

But the West Indies coach was more looking forward to his side getting a chance to bat on a typically hard, true Kensington Oval pitch, after England piled up 301 for three in their first innings at the close.

“I thought in the first session that two of the pace bowlers bowled particularly well,” he said.

“But I think the pitch is an exceptionally good batting surface and I am sure our batsmen are sitting back and taking heart at just what a good surface it is to bat on, so I was not too displeased with the pace bowling in the first session.

“I think we have set up ourselves throughout our preparation for this match to bat as well as we can throughout this game, so we have seen again what a good batting surface this is. “Obviously, we still have to bat well.”

West Indies missed no less than five chances in the field that have proved so far to be costly.

Dyson found it hard to explain why the players continued to spill catches when they practise diligently, and allow matches to slip from their grasp.

“I think Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook batted particularly well aided by a little help from us,” he said.

“It is very frustrating, but things do not change dramatically overnight. I do not know how many times I have to say this until people believe it. These things take time.”

Dyson again defended the fast bowling of Daren Powell. He made the initial breakthrough, when he bowled England captain Strauss with an unplayable in-swinging yorker.

“I think it was important for him – it was a terrific ball,” he said.

“That is what he has been working on. To get that sort of shape back in to the batsman – I suppose the away-swinger to the right-hander, or the in-swinger to the left-hander, it was the perfect length.

“Daren overall again would be a little disappointed with his bowling. He bowled too many loose balls and this is the area he really needs to work on.”