'It Would be nice to get 500': Hooper

Georgetown , April 12: West Indies' captain Carl Hooper who scored his first century on home ground on the opening day of the first Test against India said he hoped to extend his unbeaten 113-run partnerhip with Shivnarine Chanderpaul gunning for a big first innings total of 500.

"It is very important to get big partnerships. I really need to extend this partnership with (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul. It is very important that we get to somewhere near 400 in order to put some pressure on the Indians," said Hooper, who hammered an unbeaten 108 to pull his team out of trouble from 44 for 3.

Hooper said he has been emphasising all this while on his young wards to build up big partnerships.

"It would be nice to get 500 in this innings but then cricket is a funny game and the Indians could come out fresh on the second morning. It is important do well in the first session," he added.

Hooper praised his men for the way they fought back to end the day on a respectable score of 270 for 4.

"We could have been sitting here 150 all out after being 44-3. We used to capitulate easily. It seems we are showing a bit of guts. Progress has defnitely been made," said Hooper.

"Hopefully it would not be often when you see us at that score but we would fight tooth and nail to get positive results," he added.

The West Indies skipper said India lacked support to Javagal Srinath who rocked the home team with three early wickets.

"Srinath set the game for India in the morning by taking three quick wickets. But (Anil) Kumble didn't bowl as well as he could have and off-spinner (Sarandeep Singh) didn't spin the ball too much. That probably could have been the factor that we got away," Hooper said reviewing the day's play.

"They (Indians) were disciplined to start with, but then just faded away in the last session and Chanderpaul and I took advantage of it."

Hooper said the wicket at Bourda Oval had always been good to bat on and the opening day was no different and he was pleased with his crucial knock. "I am happy for the century. We would have been in a spot of bother at one stage. It was important for somebody to come good and get a big score. It turned out to be me," Hooper said.

Hooper, who returned from retirement to help revive the fortunes of West Indies, said he has not changed his style much after becoming the captain. He said he has been concentrating on get big scores rather than make an average score now and then.

"I have had good patches before when I got to 60-70. But the three-figure knock is very important and it is pretty late now but better late than never," Hooper said. "Perhaps there is more responsibility in the way I bat now but as far as my style goes, I have always played the same way."

"I played better as the game progressed. But I was nervous in the 90's. When I got to the three-figure mark, I showed some emotions."