Collymore and Ramdin happy with first day workload by CricketArchive staff reporter

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Scorecard:	West Indies v India
Player:	CD Collymore, D Ramdin
Event:	India in West Indies 2006

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DateLine: 4th June 2006

 

Corey Collymore celebrated his return to Test cricket, following a six-month layoff after undergoing knee surgery, by taking three wickets for 27 runs from 17 overs. The 26-year-old medium-fast bowler provided able support to Dwayne Bravo and helped West Indies restrict India to 235 for nine after the visitors chose to bat on the first day in the opening Test on Friday at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

 

Collymore had undergone surgery last November to remove a bone spur in his right knee tendon. "The injury was worrying, but I was glad for the rest," he said. "I was missing in New Zealand, but came back and redeemed myself against India and I was happy with my performance. I'm happy with the number of overs I put in. There are lots of bowlers in our side. About five or six guys bowled. All in all we had a good effort to start off the series."

 

Collymore's presence in the playing eleven for the first Test was doubtful after he twisted his ankle in the final One-Day International against the Indians on Sunday at Port of Spain. He, however passed a fitness test on the eve of the Test and went on to make most use of the ARG pitch that offered the West Indies bowlers considerable bounce and movement.

 

"The surface in Antigua usually favours batsmen, but I thought the pitch was seaming a bit in the morning period," Collymore said. "I thought we bowled well, but we could have restricted them a bit more. We need to get the final wicket early on Saturday and, hopefully, bat India completely out of the game."

 

West Indies wicketkeeper Dinesh Ramdin was also very happy with his performance on the first day of the Test. "The brief rest I had did me the world of good," said the 20-year-old Ramdin, who held three catches in the Indian innings. "I went home and worked on my game, and I think I am keeping much better than I had been in recent matches. Taking the catches I did also helped to boost my confidence and I am looking forward to the rest of the game."