Mohammed, Nurse hope to make big impact

Mohammed and Nurse were the stand-out performers for West Indies in the three-match series against Pakistan in April in the Caribbean. Mohammed scored two half-centuries (91 not out, 59), and Nurse scored 88 runs and snatched six wickets in the series. The pair shared in a 50-run unbroken seventh-wicket partnership to lead the West Indies to a four-wicket win in the first ODI. Despite their top performances West Indies lost the series 2-1.

Mohammed, who will be playing in front of his home crowd, is hoping for another solid series with the bat. He said, “Since coming back into the team I think I have been fairly consistent, probably the leading batsman right now in terms of runs for the year. Obviously I want to keep that up and be the leader of this batting order. For myself, doing good against India will definitely boost your ranking and status as a player, so it is something I am looking forward to. Starting with these games in Trinidad, hopefully I could get a good start in the series, and then push through the series and come out with some good scores.” Nurse said he must be consistent in his performances to help the team. “For me it is all about consistency. We take game after game seriously, and for me it is about being consistent and contributing to the team’s cause.” The second match of the series will be played at the Oval on Sunday and the third and fourth matches in Antigua, before the series concludes in Jamaica.

Mohammed’s unbeaten 91 against Pakistan is his highest score in international cricket, and the right-hander is eyeing his first international hundred. “To score my first international hundred against India will be brilliant and I will like to do it in front of my home crowd. Doing it home will make it a little bit more special.” Mohammed and opener Evin Lewis will be playing at home in the first two matches and the former said they need to lead from the front as they are familiar with the conditions. “It will be important because we know the conditions a little better than the rest of the guys. Evin is a very important member of our team in giving us a good start. Myself as a middle- order batsman (must) try to bat through the innings and try to accelerate at the end.” The Windies bowling attack is missing pacer Shannon Gabriel due to injury but Nurse is not making excuses.

“It is all about the teamwork.

If one of our guys is wounded, someone should put up his hand and try to pick up the slack. It is about just being a strong bowling unit, and we will try and do it for Shannon this series.” West Indies are coming off a disappointing drawn ODI series against minnows Afghanistan earlier this month. The threematch series finished 1-1 as rain washed out the last match.