 | I have set up more victories than draws but this was different and I learnt a lot about my batting |
Brian Lara put his West Indies side's achievement in drawing the second Test with India down to "batting teamwork". The hosts survived more than 100 overs on day five in St Lucia and skipper Lara led the way with a battling 120.
He said: "It was great to see the guys batting in partnerships. That's what teamwork is about and it was special.
"We're buoyant because we're still level. Nobody has drawn blood in this series and we are looking forward to the next 10 days of cricket."
Lara was more defensive-minded than usual, hitting only 10 fours in his 307-ball knock.
The 37-year-old said his innings had shown him he was capable of playing a role he is not used to.
"Looking at my innings before this, it seems I was out to a couple of rash shots. I need to get 50 or 60 balls under my belt and move on from there," he explained.
"My batting is about attacking and looking to dominate, I have set up more victories than draws but this was different and I learnt a lot about my batting.
"I'm not sure how much of this type of innings I have played in the past but I know I am capable of batting for long periods."
| If we had not lost 90 overs on Wednesday there was a good chance we could have won |
The series now moves on to St Kitts before concluding in Jamaica and Lara is hoping after struggles in the opening two Tests his team are given surfaces to suit their strengths.
"I would love to see fair pitches. After the first two days here it was difficult for us to do anything," he added.
"We couldn't score easily - the Indians are accustomed to this. In hindsight we should have picked a spinner but our strength is in fast bowling so we need to make it fair."
For the Indians it was another missed opportunity after also failing to finish the Windies off in Antigua.
But skipper Rahul Dravid insists his side have plenty to be cheerful about and says they will go to St Kitts in good heart.
"It was a great effort on a slow and low track to get so close to winning in four days," he explained. "The guys kept plugging away and bowled really good areas.
"We can take a lot of confidence from this and if we had not lost 90 overs on Wednesday there was a good chance we could have won it.
"We have a reputation of being poor travellers and not doing well abroad but we have shown we can do it in the last two matches.
"It would have been nice to be 1-0 up but if you play good cricket consistently you will get a result sooner or later."
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