West Indies captain Brian Lara says his team is looking to take a significant first innings lead in the first Test against India to avoid the pitfalls of batting last on a difficult track at the Antigua Recreation Ground.
"We want to get in front in a big way in the first innings as we bat last, which wouldn't be easy on this track," Lara said after his bowlers had restricted India to 235 for nine on the opening day of the first Test on Friday.
"It's a kind of wicket which has something in it for bowlers. As the match goes on, it would have more wear and tear," he said.
Lara said losing the toss proved to be advantageous for his side as the bowlers stopped the Indians from getting a good total.
"It was a good toss to lose. After couple of balls took off I thought we should let them get maximum of 200 runs. The eighth-wicket stand between [Anil] Kumble and [Shantakumaran] Sreesanth was really good. They took the attack to us. But we still kept them under three runs after 90 overs. It was a good day's job."
The champion batsman has plans to hold India down over the next two days since the wicket would be relatively at its best on the second and third day.
"We want to make sure that fourth innings for us never becomes a major issue. The wicket would be at its best over the next two days. But gradually it would get worse. There is lot of grass on the pitch and I expect it to play a part in the match," he said.
"It's a kind of track where even Dravid never looked in despite batting for a lot of overs," Lara said.
Lara said he is looking forward to paceman Fidel Edwards for a dominant role in India's second innings though he was relatively wayward on the first day.
"Edwards is supposed to be express and he bowled some really good balls today. These guys sometimes go for runs and we expect it.
"Of course, he has got to do some work and see what he was doing wrong. He could have a telling effect on India in the second innings," the West Indies captain said.
Dwayne Bravo, who took four wickets on the first day, said the visitors needed to graft and apply on this track.
"I don't think India expected the wicket to be this when they chose to bat first. It's a kind of wicket where you need to graft and apply.
"When I saw Edwards and Collymore bowl I knew the wicket had a lot of moisture and sideways movement. My job was just to bowl the right line. I think we were a bit wayward with the second new ball. They scored too many runs in the end. We should have bowled them out in the afternoon and may be batted for a couple of overs," Bravo said.
India speedster Sreesanth, who batted bravely for an unbeaten 24, said he and Anil Kumble decided to play from over to over during their impressive eighth wicket stand of 47 runs.
Sreesanth said it was an honour for him to be given a chance to lead the Indian new ball attack in the Test and did not feel that his relative inexperience would come in the way.
"I look forward to leading the attack and want to live up to the confidence the team management has reposed on me," Sreesanth said.
The Kerala seamer said Kumble would click for the tourists because of the bounce offered by the pitch.
"I feel Kumble will be handful on this pitch because of the bounce factor."
Despite talk of bringing more transparency in the functioning of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, their every action shows the lack of it.
A sample of it came from Indian team manager Ravi Sawant, who declared at the end of the day's play that "Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan were not dropped but rested".
He did not realise that resting two top players when the team is coming from a 4-1 thrashing in the one-dayers and looking to win the first series in the Caribbean in 35 years did not make sense.
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