Chase a ‘quality player’, says coach Law
WEST INDIES head coach Stuart Law has praised the talents of Roston Chase, labelling him “a quality player” who has worked hard to convert his weaknesses into strengths.
The right-handed Chase completed his fourth Test hundred on yesterday’s second day of the second and final Test against India here, after resuming the day on 98 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
“He’s a quality player. He has been a bit quiet since England and Zimbabwe. He has had reasonable success there, but since then, by his own standards, he has been a bit quiet,” the Australian coach said.
“He got a hundred in the series against India two years back, and he obviously likes playing their type of bowling.”
Chase came to his side’s rescue on Friday’s opening day with the innings precariously poised at 113 for five and in danger of going into collapse.
He then anchored two critical stands, adding 69 for the sixth wicket with wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich (30) and a further 104 for the seventh with captain Jason Holder (52).
Chase, who eventually finished on 106, hardly put a foot wrong against the Indian spin attack and Law said this was because he was accustomed to playing to slower bowling in the Caribbean.
“I think he understands spin. They face a lot of spin back in the Caribbean in domestic cricket,” Law explained.
“He has a long reach and he takes half a stride and is there to the length of the crease. He used that to his advantage, [and] he’s a clean striker of the ball.”
Chase has played 24 Tests since making his debut two years ago against India in the Caribbean and has emerged as one of the side’s leading batsmen.