GALLE, CMC:
CONCEDING THE West Indies gave a below-par second innings batting performance which allowed Sri Lanka to win the first Test by ten wickets, captain Carl Hooper said his Caribbean cricketers will bounce back in the second Test which starts on Wednesday.
"We didn't play as we could have done, but I don't think we were disgraced in any way," Hooper told reporters after the match.
"We are disappointed we lost but we'll come out fighting again in the second Test," added Hooper after the Windies folded for a mere 144 in their second innings to compare with a first innings total of 448.
"We knew it was going to be tough. They (Sri Lanka) have a world-class spinner in Muttiah Muralitharan and he is going to put you under pressure.
"I was very hopeful when I saw the way (Ramnaresh) Sarwan and (Daren) Ganga played in the first hour. They were fairly comfortable (and) it was unfortunate to lose Ganga and then Sarwan immediately afterwards."
Hooper admitted the first innings collapse from 423 for four when they lost their last five wickets cheaply, was where the game shifted as Sri Lanka then amassed 590 for nine declared to take the upper hand.
"When we were 423 for four we should have made 550," said Hooper.
"We allowed them back into the game and then bowled too short and wide on the first day. As a result they got away. We made a big effort in trying to pull them back on the third and fourth day, but we were obviously up against it."
Hooper also defended the decision to play two spinners in Dinanath Ramnarine and Neil McGarrell instead of an extra fast bowler.
"It was a dry wicket from day one, we knew it was going to turn. Ramnarine bowled well, whilst McGarrell didn't bowl as well as he should have, but if we had to do it all again we would picked two spinners."
Hooper lauded Muralitharan, who had match figures of 11 for 169, the third time he has taken ten wickets in consecutive Tests.
"When you play against a world class bowler like Muralitharan, it's difficult to have a plan," he said.
"It's not as if he has one particular strength. He bowls virtually everything. He's got a straighter ball, a flighted ball and a flat ball, so, basically, you've got to play what you see.
"We will now have a day off, before coming and working in the nets again. We will discuss where we went wrong and how we can tackle them in the second Test," added Hooper.
