Chanders: WI better, tougher

Chanderpaul said yesterday that several comebacks in the nine-wicket loss in the Second Test, most notably the 182-run partnership stand by youngsters Dwayne Bravo and Denesh Ramdin, had raised hope for a "tougher, better" West Indies in the future.

"When you see two young fellas out there doing the job the other guys are supposed to be doing out there, it’s a big lift for us," said Chanderpaul.

"We’ve seen the positives of this game already ... we get tougher, we get better. It’s always nice to see the younger guys go out there and produce. It just raises everybody’s spirit."

Bravo, 22, and Ramdin, 20, placed a major hurdle in Australia’s charge to victory with a seventh-wicket partnership that forced the home side back in for a second innings.

Century-maker Bravo missed selection for the First Test in Brisbane.

Chanderpaul said the Adelaide selection was not finalised but with left-hander Wavell Hinds and fast bowler Jermaine Lawson both fit to return, nobody’s place was guaranteed. "The guys are struggling right now," he said. "Everybody knows if you don’t perform you won’t get selected again."

Marlon Samuels’ condition for Adelaide is still uncertain with Chanderpaul saying the batsman was feeling pain from a knee injury. He used a runner while batting in the second innings in Hobart.