Ravi Rampaul said the ball was moving around and the pitch was assisting the bowlers and that led some of the batsmen playing defensively © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
Visakhapatnam: Dec 3, 2011
Ravi Rampaul, who etched his name in the record books by coming the highest scoring batsman at No. 10 said that most of the West Indies batsman perished due to poor shot selection.
“Our shot selection wasn’t good. You have to give credit to the Indian bowlers; they bowled pretty well. The wicket was moving around so I guess it’s just lack of application at the crease,” Rampaul said.
“The ball was moving around and the pitch was assisting the bowlers, so you couldn’t go out and play your shots. That’s probably the reason some of the batsmen were playing defensively. They were probably trying to give themselves a chance at the wicket but it didn’t come off.”
The West Indian pacer said he wasn’t surprised about his record-breaking feat.
"I didn't surprise myself. I am a capable batsman and have done well down the order. I just played my natural game and it came off. It's one of those days when everything has gone my way."
The speedster feels that a stoppage of 44 minutes was very important in the context of the match as he feels that it broke their momentum.
"It broke our momentum. We bowled a little bit short and were not consistent enough," Rampaul reasoned.
But the Windies looking for an elusive win on Indian soil hoped to pick their first win of their tour soon.
"We are learning as a team. We hope get across the line soon."
"But credit to Indian bowlers and there was lack of application at the crease. The ball was moving around. You can't go out there and play shots and some batsmen played defensive shots."
On his ruthless approach against India offspinner Ashwin, he said: "I just played as per merit."
Rampaul also praised the matchwinning 163-run fourth wicket partnership between Kohli and Sharma.
"They batted pretty well and paced the innings well."
