Paceman Alzarri Joseph believes West Indies are up for the challenge of levelling the three-match One-Day International series when they face hosts Bangladesh in the second match on Friday.
West Indies went down by six wickets after being bowled out for 122 in the first game on Wednesday, which meant they have now lost six consecutive matches against Bangladesh.
In the first ODI, Joseph gave the Caribbean side a steady start, before left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein showed that the bowling attack had the bite that the batting lacked.
“Everyone is aware of what is at stake and everyone is really pumped up to give a better showing in the second ODI,” Joseph said at a Virtual presser on the eve of the contest.
“It is really important for us; this game is even more important than the last one because If we lose this game, it is series (over) and everyone knows what they need to do and everyone is ready for the challenge.”
West Indies could have made a bigger score on Wednesday, particularly after Kyle Mayers and Rovman Powell added 59 runs for the sixth wicket. But from 115-5, they slipped to 122 all out.
Joseph explained the management offered words of encouragement to the batsmen to do a better job.
“They were given the confidence to go and come back; [it was] not the best application from batsmen, but they know what they need to do come to back better.”
The 24-year-old Joseph, who went wicketless in his eight overs but was highly economical, is the leader of this current attack with 29 ODI caps. He said he is looking forward to the challenge.
“It is something I look forward to and it is new challenge given all of the pull outs (of first-choice players). It is a new challenge and it something I accept with open arms and I expect myself to lead from the front.”
He added, “It is a challenge because more often or not, everyone is looking to me to set the tone and it is a challenge and it’s for me to lead by example.”
In just six innings in 2020, Joseph took 18 wickets, second to Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa for the most wickets in ODIs during the year. He had a best of 4-32, an average of 14.72, and an economy rate of 4.41.
The Antiguan played down the fact that the team did not train on the eve of the match, noting they had ample preparation and the players needed time to recuperate.
The second ODI will be played again in Dhaka from 01:30h Eastern Caribbean time.
In the first ODI, West Indies fielded six debutants.
Bangladesh ODI squad: Tamim Iqbal (capt), Shakib Al Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mohammad Mithun, Liton Das, Mahmudullah, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Mehidy Hassan, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mahedi Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam.
West Indies ODI squad: Jason Mohammed (Captain), Sunil Ambris (Vice-captain), Nkrumah Bonner, Joshua Da Silva, Keon Harding, Jahmar Hamilton, Chemar Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Kyle Mayers, Andre McCarthy, Kjorn Ottley, Rovman Powell, Raymon Reifer.
