West Indies ready to rumble with the Aussies

The West Indies is ready to take on Australia in the first of three One Day Internationals (ODI) in the Digicel series, beginning here, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, today Friday, March 16.{{more}}

West Indies Captain, Darren Sammy, at a press conference Wednesday at the Conference Room of the National Sports Council’s Administrative Centre at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, said that his charges are banking on history, as well as their own talents.

“So far St. Vincent has been a good ground for us; the last two games here, we won all three, but we know we are playing against Australia and we are going out there to play positive Cricket,” Sammy stated.

“We have to believe we can do it; we have some exciting players and we have some depth, and we just have to go out there and execute properly,” the 28-year-old captain added.

The West Indies Captain was speaking against the backdrop of his team going into the first three matches without some of the players who played in the last ODI series in India.

Among them are openers Adrian Barath and Lendl Simmons, as well as fast bowler, Ravi Rampaul, and wicket keeper, Denesh Ramdin, who are sidelined because of injury.

Sammy however said that the inclusion of newcomer Johnson Charles, and the return of the bubbly duo of Dwayne Bravo and Tino Best, are pluses for the team.

Meanwhile, Coach of the West Indies Otis Gibson is upbeat about his team’s chances going into the ODI series.

“We had a camp in Barbados, where we went through our one day drills and game plan and all the fitness testing went well, and the guys are happy and raring to go,” Gibson said.

He also disclosed that Dwayne Bravo takes over the post of Vice-Captain, a position vacated by Denesh Ramdin, who suffered a broken finger during the training camp last week in Barbados.

Ramdin’s place in the team has been taken by Carlton Baugh Jr.

The Australians are coming off a successful tri-nation one day series against Sri Lanka and India, which both Captain Shane Watson and Coach Mickey Arthur believe has done their team well.

Arthur, whilst excited about his young prospects like David Warner and Xavier Doherty, said his team will keep its guard up, as it faces unknown players from the West Indies.

In total, the two sides have faced each other in 125 ODIs, with Australia triumphing in 63 and the West Indies in 57. Three matches ended with no result, with two tied matches.

The latest Reliance ODI Rankings released February 20, show the regional side at position eight in the thirteen team table, while Australia sits at the top of the heap in position number one.

The second match takes place on Sunday and the third is set for next Tuesday.

And, word from the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association up to press time Wednesday, is that all seats for the reserved areas: the Michael Findlay, the Frank Thomas and the Sir Phillip Veira stands have been sold out for Sunday’s match.

The authorities say they are expecting a capacity crowd on Sunday and a near full house on Friday.

First Vice President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, Elson Crick, who is also a West Indies Cricket Board Director, revealed at last Wednesday’s Press Conference that tickets are still available for Tuesday’s match.

The West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (Captain), Carlton Baugh, Tino Best, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Kieran Powell, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell and Marlon Samuels.

Australia squad: Shane Watson (Captain), George Bailey, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Nathan Lyon, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Matthew Wade, David Warner.