… wants youngsters to stick to basics during series

By Clifton Ross

WEST Indies ODI vice-captain Sunil Ambris believes the new-look team can spring a few surprises against Bangladesh, thus overcoming their challenges of fielding a relatively young side.
A veteran in the Regional system and with 13 matches in his combined Test and ODI career, the 27-year-old believes he too has a lot to prove and is backing the newbies and the possible debutants to shrug off any jitters and put their best performances out.
“I think this is actually the first tour that I am confident that I am starting. I’d like to use this tour to cement myself in the playing XI for the other tours. We are a very inexperienced batting team. But we have some talented batsmen who can turn a match any time if they can set themselves,” said Ambris.
Ambris is also among a few players, like skipper Jason Mohammed and Guyanese Veerasammy Permaul, who either made their debut against the Tigers or last played international cricket against the Bangladeshis.

The St Vincent-born batsman played 3 of his 8 ODIs against Bangladesh back in 2019, where he had a fifty as Windies lost the 3 games.
However, looking to make amends, Ambris said he was determined to make this opportunity count and wants his bat to do the talking.
“Personally, I am looking to score. I would love to get at least one hundred out of these three games. I think that would do me a lot of good. My cricket has not changed at all’ my tendency is to stay positive. I try to play smart cricket, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. However, it often works against Bangladesh”.

He continued, “I think with the bowling that we have in these conditions, we would be able to defend anything between 240 and 270. Hopefully the pitch here would not be much different. But I don’t think it will be that easy. I will have to work a little bit more than I did in Ireland, as the pitches there were really good for batting.” he explained.
Spinner Hayden Walsh Jr recently tested positive for COVID-19. Ambris closed off by speaking of his teammate, his own state of mind currently and his advice to the youngsters; Ambris was upbeat but still wary of the threats both on and off the cricket field.
“Stick to what you know – (his advice to the youngsters). Many of them are newcomers to international cricket but should try not to be worried too much, just play hard and smart cricket.
“Walsh’s situation is very sad, I wish him speedy recovery but that’s out of my mind now. I just want to think ahead, try and stay safe and be positive,” he ended.