Chanderpaul backs Windies to bounce back against Proteas

Port Elizabeth (South Africa), Dec 24 (IANS/CMC) West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul has expressed confidence in his team's ability to bounce back against South Africa in the second Test match at St. George's Park starting here Friday.

The West Indies suffered their heaviest ever defeat in South Africa, when they were humiliated by an innings and 220 runs, 70 minutes before lunch on the penultimate day of the opening Test Saturday, reports CMC.

The Windies will need a vastly improved batting performance after they failed to capitalise on starts in the first innings and were annihilated in 80 minutes in the second.

Chanderpaul believes the Caribbean side has players who can step up.

"They're the No.1 team in the world, and to be there you have to have the best bowling attack in the world. It's been a learning experience for the youngsters, and I'm sure they'll come out of this stronger," said Chanderpaul.

"The guys we have here are the best in the Caribbean, that's the reason they're here. They've all scored runs in the past, scored a lot of hundreds in regional cricket. They all have talent and are bright stars for the future."

In an effort to boost their scoring the West Indies will be expecting much from Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels, who was the highest run-scorer on their last tour to South Africa.

Additionally, the West Indies have Devon Smith, who was had the third-best aggregate in last season's regional challenge and was leading the charts in this season's before embarking on the tour, Jermaine Blackwood, who was last season's most successful first-class batsman, and Kraigg Brathwaite, who already has a Test double hundred to his name.

"Hopefully this game we (the batting lineup) can get it right and put some decent scores on the board," said the experienced left-hander, preparing for a record 160th Test match.

"That's something we talked about, the start we got and hopefully a few guys can carry on."

--IANS/CMC

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