da bet esporte： Michael Findlay detected “a kind of fighting spirit that only be goodfor West Indies cricket” in the just-concluded Test series againstSouth Africa
Tony Cozier27-Apr-2001Michael Findlay detected “a kind of fighting spirit that only be goodfor West Indies cricket” in the just-concluded Test series againstSouth Africa.”In all the Test matches, we were often in a precarious position andwere able to recover and to compete with South Africa,” the chairmanof selectors said yesterday.”In the last Test that we won, there were moments when it looked as ifthings were turning against the West Indies, but they stuck to theirguns and came bouncing right back,” he added. “I am seeing a revivedspirit that says the players recognise that success is important andthat winning is important.”Findlay identified inexperience as the factor that hindered the WestIndies most against opponents rated second only to Australia in theinternational game at present.Yet he took encouragement from the talented young players in the team.”When you look at the core of the team, we have young batsmen with thepotential to develop into outstanding international cricketers,” hesaid. “A series against a such tough team as South Africa should themdo them good, but a lot will depend on how we nuture and mould themfrom here on.”Five of the batsmen who played in the series – Chris Gayle, WavellHinds, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Leon Garrick – were underthe age of 25 and had played fewer than 15 Tests.”What we’re beginning to see coming through is the kind of talentwe’ve been looking for all the time, especially with the batting,” hesaid.But he acknowledged that the “worrying thing” is the fast bowling,especially not that Courtney Walsh had retired.”Courtney has been a truly great bowler and a great influence in theteam,” Findlay said. “When you realise he took 25 wickets in theseries and that was more than anyone, and you add his experience tothat, you realise what we’re losing.””But it”s a chance for the others to lift their game,” he added.The chairman noted that most observers had tipped “a total whitewash”for South Africa given the 5-0 drubbing the West Indies received inAustralia. Instead, even though South Africa took the Sir Viv RichardsTrophy, it had been a hard-fought series.In his opinion, South Africa won the second and fourth Tests – andalmost the third because they had “greater depth in batting,consistently bowled a superior line and length and fielded superbly”.The West Indies paid for their mistakes.”For too much of the time, too many of our batsmen lost their wicketsto loose shots, mostly outside off-stump,” he said. “Our bowlinglacked consistency and our fielding was not up to internationalstandards.”In winning the last Test, the West Indies finally put things together.Whether there are positives effects from that result would hingemainly on how the young players “come to grips with and demonstratethe high professionalism that is required at the international levelof the game”, Findlay added.”It’s very easy for young people to have distractions, so we have tobe careful. The programmes planned by the board [West Indies CricketBoard], good support services in the individual territories, thecoaching staff, family and friends, everyone has to play a role.”The proposed retainer contracts that would place players on the WICB’sbooks on a full-time basis were, in his view, “essential”.”It’s something the board has been addressing over the past year andit would certainly be beneficial when is finalised since it would helpto get the young players to focus on the game all year round,” Findlaysaid.