Nanan says Windies batting key to series against Proteas
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Former West Indies off-spinner Rangy Nanan believes the West Indies batting will be crucial if the regional side are to be competitive in South Africa later this year.
"Looking at the recent series between New Zealand and South Africa, the New Zealanders which are a far better team than ours, made very low scores and this resulted in them not even being competitive," Nanan told CMC Sports.
New Zealand ended their two-match Test series against South Africa earlier this week after losing both games.
"South Africa's batting is awesome. Just take a look at Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla and you would know the battle you are about to have," Nanan said.
"Then you have skipper Graeme Smith who loves to make runs against West Indies. As far as I see it, the only way we can be competitive is to get huge scores when we bat, to give the bowlers a good cushion to work with.
"There is no Lara around but we have guys capable of getting big scores and they must stand up and be counted."
He continued: "If you make 130 to 200 runs in the first innings of a Test match, you are on the back foot and more than likely to get whipped within three days. We need to get out there concentrate on building innings and put a price on our wickets."
West Indies face South Africa in a series comprising three Tests and five One-Day Internationals, beginning Boxing Day.
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