“I just want to put that Test behind me and concentrate on the future”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

West Indies opener Rajendra Chandrika is eager to put his dismal Test debut against Australia behind him.

Chandrika became the 40th batsman to register a pair of ducks on debut as the West Indies were demolished by 277 runs in the second Test in Jamaica.

Chandrika’s first Test lasted a total of nine balls and 16 minutes as he fell to Australia left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc in both innings.

“Once I reached the middle all I had wanted is to get off the mark in both innings but the shot selections were not good,” Chandrika told the Guyana Chronicle. “I just want to put that Test behind me and concentrate on the future. I still have a lot of cricket in me so one bad Test is not the end.”

However, West Indies head coach Phil Simmons threw his support behind Chandrika and believes that the 25-year-old will bounce back with a vengeance.

“He has to understand that he can bat, or else he would not have been on the team,” Simmons told the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian. “He has to keep that confidence in himself, correct his flaws and move forward in his career.”