Brendan Nash, the West Indies vice-captain, is hoping that a return to St Kitts will bring him another big score as his side aims to wrap up the series against Pakistan. The second Test begins on Friday at Warner Park, where Nash last year made his highest Test score, 114 against South Africa.
West Indies are coming off a morale-boosting victory in the first Test in Guyana, their first Test win in more than two years. However, Nash didn't have much impact in the match, scoring 5 in the first innings and 3 in the second, and he wants to play his part in St Kitts.
"Last year when we played here we got a really good batting surface and I managed to get a good century, which was my second century for the West Indies," Nash said. "We were outplayed by the South Africans in the first match in Trinidad, but we rebounded to get what you could say was a fighting draw here in St Kitts.
"I felt I batted really well, adding some valuable runs with Shiv [Chanderpaul], who also got a good century. Shiv and I put on a very good partnership. There were quite a few runs scored in that match and it was good the way we responded. Coming back here again this year I will be looking for another big score for the team. I didn't get many in Guyana so I know I will be looking to make a greater contribution in this match.
"We did some really good things in Guyana and we will be looking to do well again here. The bowlers were exceptional. [Darren] Sammy led from the front and the others followed. Ravi [Rampaul] got some great wickets for us and [Devendra] Bishoo was also very good in his first match. I rate the performance of the team very high."
Fourteen players have travelled to St Kitts to prepare for the second Test; the XI from the Guyana victory plus Fidel Edwards, Marlon Samuels and Kraigg Brathwaite. The squad will be trimmed to 13 on Thursday.