Shai Hope | West Indies captain:
(On enjoying the team’s batting effort) We all enjoyed it, to be honest. When everyone is firing like that, it’s a real joy to watch. It’s great to see contributions coming from all around. Rovman Powell, everyone adding to the tally. Maybe there’s just one more battle left to convert it into a really big score, but it’s all coming with time.
(On whether he expected the ball to grip as much) Honestly, I didn’t expect it to spin as much as it did today, especially in the first innings. I thought it might turn a bit because the surface was slightly tougher than usual, but not to that extent. The amount of spin surprised me. It was great to see our spinners make full use of the conditions.
(On Gulakesh Motie’s impact since returning) We sometimes underestimate and neglate how important time away from the game can be, especially when you’re playing a lot of cricket. He’s been one of our best bowlers across formats, and it’s been great to see him come back having used that time wisely. He’s clearly worked on his skills and even added something extra with his wrist spin, which has been very beneficial for us. Everyone has chipped in when needed, and hopefully we can carry this form forward.
(On improving as an opening pair) You always want to get better. There are always areas to improve, and while it’s important to focus on the positives, you also can’t ignore certain realities. That said, I’m not too concerned. King has been batting really well, he was doing well in South Africa, he’s batting well in the nets, and sometimes in cricket, runs just don’t come when you want them to. I’m very confident in his ability and skill set, and I’m sure a big score is just around the corner.
(On team selection and squad flexibility) That’s exactly why you come to a World Cup with a squad and not just eleven players. You need to utilize everyone’s skill sets. Selection is based on opposition, conditions, and sometimes form, but mostly it’s tactical, about finding the best XI for that particular game. Everyone is playing well, so it’s about fitting the right combination together.
incidentally the pitch where WI played today was the same one as IND vs USA. Shows how well they have utilised it 🥲 or maybe how we haven’t.
Sir is meant for bowling, not batting. 
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