India series litmus test for Windies: Coach Gibson

Bridgetown (Barbados), Oct 21 (IANS/CMC) West Indies cricket coach Ottis Gibson believes that the upcoming series against India will gauge the Caribbean side's resurgence in Test cricket.

The West Indies will play two Test matches and three One Day Internationals against India before contesting three Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals on tour of New Zealand.

But Gibson said the Indian series will give his players the confidence as they return to play Test cricket once again.

"We are not saying we cannot beat India, but we know it is going to be tough. The last time we went to India, we had a couple of inexperienced guys and we put up a good show. So hopefully this time with a bit more experience, we can go one better and win the series. There is no reason why we can't," Gibson told reporters in Bridgetown as the team members gathered for a fitness and medical camp Sunday.

Gibson said that while India is ahead of them in the rankings, they plan to fight hard and put on a good show for the fans.

The West Indies' last Test match was in November of 2012 when it defeated Bangladesh and its other victories were against New Zealand in a home series in August of that year.

Gibson, a former West Indies pacer, noted that the series against India will finally settle the question of where the West Indies stand in the longest format.

"We have played great in Test cricket, having won the last six, but people have been poking fun at the opposition.

"This one in India gives us the opportunity to see where we are as a Test side. India are playing some very good One-Day cricket at the moment; they haven't played Tests in a long time either, so it gives us an opportunity to go out there and test ourselves," said Gibson.

The first Test between West Indies and India will begin Nov 6 at the famous Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the largest cricket stadium in India.

--IANS/CMC

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