Published: Dec 01, 2017, 05:36 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 01, 2017, 05:43 PM (IST)
West Indies’ debutant Sunil Ambris got his name in history, getting out hit-wicket for a duck on debut during the first innings against New Zealand. This is the first time since 2005 that a batsman has been out hit-wicket for a duck, after Steve Waugh. This is also the tenth incident of the sort.
Ambris, who made his debut banking on his twin tons during West Indies’ tour against Sri Lanka A, was one of Neil Wagner’s 7 wickets and fell for a golden duck. Wagner ran through the visitors’ batting line-up at Wellington on Friday, bundling them for a paltry 134. Trent Boult was the only other successful bowler. In reply, New Zealand put up 85 for 2 before stumps of the opening day.
A class player
However, West Indies’ coach Stuart Law has full faith on Ambris.
“Sunil’s a class player, he was picked on form and he got 150 the other day against a pretty good [New Zealand A] attack. He’s disappointed, it’s a freak dismissal and I’m hoping he doesn’t step on them again.
“He showed no emotion, he walked back in the dressing room and shrugged his shoulders. Bad luck. There’s a few guys who’ve got out first ball on test debut and they’ve gone on to be pretty good,” Law added.
West Indies can come back
Law believes his boys of West Indies can stage a comeback from this point.”I believe in our players and we’re good enough to bowl New Zealand out as cheap as we possibly can. Whether that’s 350 depends on this partnership and you’ve got some dangerous players towards the bottom.
“Ross Taylor is the big wicket and if we can get him early anything’s possible. A lead of 100-150 sounds a lot but I believe in our players and if they put their minds to it that’s a pretty good batting wicket.”
