AHMEDABAD — Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican insists the West Indies must quickly shake off the scars of their record-breaking collapse against Australia, stressing that grasping the defining passages of play will be the key to challenging India in their upcoming two-Test series.
The Caribbean side endured humiliation in July when they were dismissed for their lowest-ever Test total of 27 against Australia. Warrican admitted the memory still lingers but said it must serve as motivation rather than a burden.
“There’s no team that ever wants to get bowled out for 23 or 24 or whatever it was. We have to take a lot of learning from that experience,” he told reporters after training.
“It’s very important to learn from it and try to move forward and show what we are capable of doing. We competed against Australia, but there were key moments we didn’t hold on to, and they got the better of us.”
Eyeing key moments against India
Looking ahead to the opening Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday, Warrican emphasized that India’s formidable form leaves no room for lapses.
“Going forward, we have to really improve and know that we are playing against a top opposition. We have to seize the key moments in these games, and hopefully we can improve and do a lot better in this series.”
Warrican acknowledged that visiting left-arm spinners have found recent success in India, citing New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner, whose performance in Pune set up a famous win last season. Still, he cautioned against relying on history.
“It gives me a lot of confidence as a left-arm spinner, but I’d say you got to play on the day, adapt to the conditions and assess the situation ahead of you,” Warrican said.
“Yes, it’s impressive that left-arm spinners have done well against India, but you can’t live too much in the past. You have to focus on the present and just on the job at hand.”
Hard work in the nets
Since arriving in Ahmedabad on September 24, the West Indies have thrown themselves into rigorous training. Warrican praised both batsmen and bowlers for their preparation.
“The guys have been putting in the hard work. We had two all-day sessions to get acclimatised. The batsmen have been doing a lot of drills — sweeping spin, pulling off the back foot, forward defense, lofted shots — just backing the game plan against spinners or pacers.
The bowlers have been hitting their lengths consistently, doing a lot of spot bowling, then taking that into match-style situations.”
Sammy’s message: Play free, enjoy the game
Warrican also credited head coach Daren Sammy with encouraging the players to approach the challenge with clarity and positivity.
“That is one of the messages the coach is really instilling in us — to be free, back your game plans, and enjoy your cricket,” he explained.
“Anytime you step out on the field, don’t be tense, don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Just enjoy the moment and have fun while playing, but still be aware of what’s happening around you.”
Rain interrupts final prep
The team’s outdoor nets on Tuesday were cut short just 30 minutes in due to passing showers, forcing them indoors. Top-order batsmen Shai Hope, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, and Brandon King faced spells from pacers Jayden Seales and Justin Greaves, as well as spinners Roston Chase and Khary Pierre, before finishing against net bowlers and the bowling machine under cover.
With the weather threatening to disrupt the series opener, the West Indies know they must be sharp, disciplined, and ready to pounce on opportunities if they are to unsettle one of world cricket’s strongest home sides.
