'Sobers, Viv needed'

“We are missing runs on the board. As a batting unit, everyone should contribute. Batting has not been the problem only in this series, it has been plaguing us for the last ten years. Maybe I could have Sir Gary Sobers, Viv Richards and Clyde Walcott and other greats at the same time.

“But I think whoever is picked for the West Indies, the onus is on them to make a difference,” Sammy said. Sammy said they have to take positives from the moments in which the West Indies performed well. “It’s about us winning key moments.

After having them 80-odd for six, we should have bowled better. We had the chance to bat well, but we were behind them by 70-odd runs. There is not much between the teams, but it’s a matter of winning the key moments.

“We have to be positive as this is a three-Test series. We have to pick ourselves. We bowled out India twice. So we know we can take 20 wickets. One area we need to click is batting.

“While batting last, we got the highest score in match. So, if we can correct batting, and if I don’t drop Dravid, we can put ourselves in a better place,” he said. Sammy refused to buy the theory that there’s discontent in the team against his leadership. “Just as the team believe in me, I also believe in them. We try to keep a positive atmosphere in the dressing room.

“If we can prepare hard in the nets, we can do it. As long as the players take responsibility to put the team first, we will be in a better position.

“I have my say as well in team matters. I as captain or Haynes as batting coach or Gibson as coach can only talk but at the end of the day, we as players have to get out there and do the best,” he said.

“I am happy with the team atmosphere. When the results don’t go our way people will talk, but if we can get the batting side of things right, we will do well.”

Asked whether explosive opener Chris Gayle would have made a difference, Sammy said, “You never know. When he comes back, we will see about it.”