January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Big George picked us up when we needed it
I was rested yesterday because of a little niggle to my Achilles. On a long tour like it doesn't make sense to go out there and force it when we have so many quality players and they can get an opportunity. It's just a little bit sore so we didn't want to take a chance.
Jacobi (Robinson) also sat out because he had hurt his toe when he ran into the boundary rope. They used nails to keep the rope down and while Jacobi was going for a catch and he ran into it. He could have played but it was just precautionary that coach sat him out.
I really felt like getting hit because I'm in good form right now. I was more anxious wishing I was in the game when we lost early wickets and team was in trouble.
I didn't feel like I was in control because I was on the sidelines and it's a bit nervous sitting on the side because everything is out of my control.
Coach always tells us to think like a captain so even while we're sitting, we're talking about things as we watch the match. Some of the guys could be moved a little to the left or the right by five or ten yards.
Players can see more off the field than on it so whatever we can see to help the guys out, we do.
It helps keep us focused on the game and on every ball.
We were in big trouble early and lost a lot of wickets and were around 130 for 7 and then George O'Brien came in and partnered with the skipper (Irving Romaine) for a good knock. They both did very well. George had 49 not out and the skipper had 35. That's what really turned it around for us. George's knock was very impressive and came at a very good time for us.
They took us up to 200 when we could have been bowled out for around 140 and that would have been very embarrassing against this sort of team.
Mental toughness
Once again, the guys didn't give up. They are really showing some mental toughness this tour. Sluggo (Dwayne Leverock) got the big breakthrough bowling when he got Darren Sammi.
George also bowled well and ended up taking four wickets.
The guys are just getting stronger mentally every day. They're picking up wickets at the right time
We will definitely be tested mentally when we go to the World Cup Qualifiers and face harder opposition.
The guys are hanging in there and not giving up; they're fighting because we're mentally tougher now. We're winning these games that we used to lose.
We still have a ways to go, but this is another positive sign.
Friday's match
We should face our toughest opposition in St. Lucia on Friday. They'll have all their biggest guys. It should be most of their national squad players.
We faced Darren Sammy - the million dollar man - on Thursday, but they should have more quality guys.
Sammy was firing and stroking the ball when Sluggo took him on Thursday. He's a big wicket. He's the leader of their team so everything is based around him.
Whenever you get the big man out you feel you have a chance to win the match.
You start to apply pressure to the rest of the lineup.
We got his pretty early and it just lifted the team.
The younger players don't understand this as much, but the senior players know that winning becomes a habit. Every game is important because it has an add on effect.
It just builds momentum to the next match. Hopefully well end up with another victory today. We've had a great tour so far and we're on the right path. We're building this team one day at a time.
The more that we win and build character as a unit, shows that we are on the right path.
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