Denesh Ramdin cuts Stuart MacGill - Brooks La Touche Photography

Ramdin credited assistant coach David Williams, the former West Indies wicketkeeper, for assisting him with his pre-series preparations.

"I did a lot of work with David Williams at the preparatory camp in Antigua. I did a lot of diving, a lot of lateral movement and took a lot of catches from a lot of edges. He had me working really hard on my keeping so it is for my batting to come along now and going into the Second Digicel Test I need to spend time at the crease which is important," the 23 year old gloveman said.

He felt that he needed to bat by the session, first looking to last for one session then a second and then go on to get a big score. Ramdin has featured in 25 Test matches since making his debut against Sri Lanka in 2005 and has been the regular West Indies Test wicketkeeper since. The slimly built wicketkeeper has a highest score of 71 against Australia in Hobart in his debut year. He has hit five half centuries while looking for his maiden Test hundred and has taken 74 catches and has effected 2 stumpings.

A former West Indies Under 19 captain, Ramdin's batting average is still in the low twenties (22.52). His last half century was an impressive 60 against England in May last year at Lord's.

He said that confidence is the hallmark of his usually positive batting.

"I am a confident player, I always like to go out there and do well for my team, my country and myself. I have to go out there, do the basics, enjoy it and at the end of the day I should get a good score," Ramdin asserted.

Reflecting on his performances in the First Digicel Test at Sabina Park which the West Indies lost by 95 runs, Ramdin said he needs to be more consistent with the bat
"I didn't do well in the first innings but in the second innings I started off a bit shaky then I got in and everything looked smooth but then there was a little bit of complacency and I got run out," Ramdin said.

He failed to score in the first innings but made a top score of 36 in the second innings as he led the West Indies batting as they chased 287 for victory. The right hander added 67 for the seventh wicket with all rounder Darren Sammy (35) but was run out with the score on 149 for 7 while going for a sharp single and the West Indies folded for 191.

The Trinidadian said he and St Lucian Sammy were working together to target some of the weaker Australian bowlers as their built their partnership.
"We were trying to target certain bowlers and we were doing that quite well and we put Australia on the back foot with a 67 run partnership and they had to resort to the strike bowlers to come back and get a wicket but it was unfortunate that I got run out at that stage," Ramdin recalled.

Finally he said that he is delighted with the return to the West Indies team of captain Chris Gayle and fast bowler Jerome Taylor.

"Those two guys are world class players, Chris is important at the top of the order to give us a start and Jerome is crucial with the new ball to get early breakthroughs, they are match winning players," Ramdin said.

West Indies coach John Dyson, briefing the media after the West Indies training session this morning at the Antigua Recreation Ground said that Gayle is about 90% fit while Taylor is fully recovered from his injury and is expected to play. The West Indies camp will announce their final eleven shortly before the toss on Friday.