Jamaica Gleaner
Published: Tuesday | February 3, 2009
Home : Sport
Sir Viv has high hopes for West Indies
Keisha Hill, Staff Reporter


Besides being a master batsman, Sir Vivian Richards was also a handy off-spin bowler and marvellous fielder. He shows that he still has what it takes as he reacts to claim a catch during a demonstration exercise at Emancipation Park, following the launch of the Johnnie Walker 'Know Your Boundaries' Responsible Drinking campaign yesterday. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Sir Vivian Richards, who never lost a series as West Indies captain, is confident that the West Indies team will be successful in the upcoming Digicel Home Series if they can capitalise on the recent misfortunes of the England team and improve on their overall performance.

The cricket legend, having captained the team in 50 Test matches from 1980-1991, stated that he would always support the West Indies not only because he represented them for a number of years, but he was optimistic that they would improve on their performance.

"No matter the situation, the West Indies team may be in, I am behind them 100 per cent. I just hope that they improve and the improvement may add to some of the woes which England went through recently, having lost their captain and the coach," Richards said.

Richards, the face of Johnnie Walker's 'Know Your Boundaries' Responsible Drinking campaign, was speaking in an interview with The Gleaner, following the launch yesterday at Cuddy'z, New Kingston.

Regarded as the greatest one-day international batsman of all time, as well as the third-greatest Test batsman of all time, Richards, who is also known as the 'Master Blaster', believes the upcoming Test is also an opportunity for the West Indies to improve their ratings.

Accordingly, he warns the West Indies team to guard against mediocrity, as with the England team being away from home, the team spirit and camaraderie would be highand would create greater team unity.

"Teams always, in my opinion, do better away from home. This might be an occasion for England to feel that this is an opportunity for them to go back home and say they have achieved against the odds," he said.

The West Indies, he said, must observe that England have been winning a little bit more than them and having invested in so many coaches over the years, the time had come for the team to settle as a unit in order for it to be successful.

"We cannot afford to be making these changes over and over again. It's either they are going to come through with John Dyson's method or we're going to go on another ride again. It's the season for us to turn the corner and consistently do well," Richards said.

GAYLE CONSISTENCY

Often regarded as the most devastating batsman that ever played the game, he believes that captain Chris Gayle has more potential and needs to be more consistent. He stated that this will change and improve Gayle's cricket overall.

"I know that Chris is very much high in ratings and I believe we can speak about having ability and talent for so long, but I believe the time is up now for us to turn that particular corner and to show the world what we are about, what we would have learnt for the past few years and the things we are capable of in the future," he said.

He also had strong words for right-handed batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan.

"He has not been performing as expected and needs to notch up a bit as well."

However, Richards is confident that former captain and ace left-handed batsman, Shivnarine Chaunderpaul, will deliver a superb performance.

"He has been magnificent for us. He has been a Trojan for us where batting is concerned and I am not worried about him. It's basically the rest I am worried about," he concluded.

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