BRIDGETOWN: Ottis Gibson felt let down again by the way West Indies batted on the opening day of the third and final Test against South Africa on Saturday.
The West Indies coach bemoaned the uncommitted approach of the batsmen, which resulted in his side being bowled out for a modest 231 in their first innings, after they elected to bat on a hard, true Kensington Oval pitch.
South Africa in reply were 46-2 at stumps after their attack, led by Johan Botha and Dale Steyn, had inflicted most of the damage.
Off-spinner Botha was the most successful Proteas bowler with four wickets for 56 runs from 19.5 overs, as West Indies, electing to bat on a hard, true pitch at Kensington Oval, were dismissed about 40 minutes before the scheduled close.
Steyn supported with three for 37 from 13 overs, and Jacques Kallis took two for 36 from 12.
Gibson, though, slammed his batsmen for not performing.
"It`s been a disappointing batting performance again after recovering some confidence, the way we batted in St Kitts, to come and perform this way," said Gibson.
"We spoke about winning the toss and batting, and putting a big score on the board, but we weren`t able to do this."
All-rounder Dwayne Bravo top-scored with 61, Narsingh Deonarine made 46, and a handful of others got starts, without pushing on.
"You look at a lot of our dismissals not only (here), but over the course of the series, and shot selection has been an issue," said Gibson.
"You sort of talk to players about it, and try to work in the nets around shot selection, but at the end of the day, the players go out in the middle, and they are the ones you expect to execute, and execute well.
"This has been a massive cause for concern for us, and it is something we have to look at very carefully going forward."
Gibson noted that the careless batting ruined his side`s plans to occupy the crease long enough, and allow spinners Sulieman Benn and Shane Shillingford to benefit from an aging pitch, so the home team could challenge for a win.
"We intended if we won the toss to bat first," he said.
"We`ve got to win the game, we`ve got to put runs on the board.
"The pitch looks dry. It looks like it will break up, and provide some turn for our spinners.
"They have been our key, and if we can get runs on the board, and the spinners bowling in a last innings, with South Africa having to chase anything above 200, then we feel we have a chance in the game still."
South Africa lead the three-Test series 1-0, after they won the first Test by 163 runs inside four days at Queen`s Park Oval in Trinidad, and the second Test was drawn at Warner Park in St. Kitts.
BDST: 1639hrs, June 27, 2010
SA
