Excerpts from Thursday's (July 28) press conference:
Half-century in the last innings, but Test form had been poor before that...
You make a half-century, it's a milestone. You have to cherish it, but at the end of the day I always want more. I haven't been getting the runs that I'm looking for in the Test arena, but I've been making up in the shorter versions, so it augurs well that I'm doing well for the team as well in the next versions. It's just, I need to start focusing more and putting in some big performances, so the team can benefit from it.
Thoughts on playing in front of your home crowd in Jamaica?
It's a great opportunity for me. Not too many sportsmen get to play in front of their home crowd. I think I've got the opportunity more than one time, so I cherish it - playing in front of a Jamaican crowd. As I said, it's a great opportunity, not only for me, but for the team to make a turnaround and come here and play some positive cricket and put up not just a challenge but a fight.
How realistic is that?
Well, first and foremost, I'm not going to be here to tell you that it's a young team. For me to say that is like finding excuses for the team. It's a Test team, and Test cricket is big-man cricket, and the players should know that by now. They are here, playing Test cricket. So we all have to step up to the plate, and put up a very good challenge against the Indians. The Indians are a very good team, a very good unit, so what we want to try and do, to build right now, is a team spirit, and build a stronger unit in order [to move forward]. Yes, we have new players coming in, but they still have to deliver. At the end of the day you have to, to keep your job here.
Is there extra pressure because you're a senior player?
To be honest, it's a lot of pressure. I'm not going to tell you that there's not a great deal of pressure, because I not only have to stand up and score a fifty or a hundred, I have to actually bat through the innings, because I'm playing a role where I'm batting at four. I have to dominate and know, when we lose a wicket, that I need to tone it down. Sometimes I like to, if I'm on the go, just continue to go, but the responsibility is great, so I have to change. But nevertheless, whenever I get the opportunity to talk in a team meeting, trying to just encourage the younger players to go out there... we need to look at not just senior players doing their job, but for them [youngsters] to come and do the job as well. Because, at the end of the day, they're going to be the senior players as well.
How do you want to make this outing special? Any targets?
Yeah, definitely. But, the most important thing is to win in front of your home crowd and playing in a unit, and that's the ultimate goal for me. Personal achievement is definitely coming out here and showing my Jamaican people what they have been seeing over the years - me coming out here, playing shots and just enjoying myself in the middle and I'm sure that will make a lot of people happy as well.
Does this team have the ability to make a comeback?
Yes, West Indies more than have it in them. They have pride, and as I said, it's a job. If you don't do your job well, you're not going to be around here.
Jeffrey Dujon said this might be your last Test series?
Jeffrey Dujon can say anything. But what I say is, I'm here to focus on the Test series and put my best foot forward, and make a significant contribution, so that, whatever I do, the team can benefit from it. That's my ultimate goal and that's my focus at the moment.
What are the chances of Alzarri Joseph making his debut in the game?
I would definitely play him. He's Fit, fast and fearless. When are you going to play him, at 25? He's 19 now, it's the best time to just let him go and enjoy himself and express himself.
What do you remember of the young Marlon Samuels, who went to Australia at 19?
Everything I said about Alzarri just now, basically covers me.
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