We are trying to win every game, says West Indies coach
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| Published on Saturday, May 12, 2007 |
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TAUNTON, United Kingdom: West Indies coach David Moore spoke with the media on Thursday before the West Indies first practice session. Following are excerpts from his responses.
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| West Indies Coach, David Moore. Digicel/Getty Photo |
On the limited preparation time especially with the rainy weather in Taunton:
There is always concerns when you cant get enough practice time in but we know the weather conditions and we know that there is always going to be that possibility when you come to England or when you go anywhere on a tour that there is always that possibility of having your preparations disrupted. We've come from a long World Cup where players did get the chance to step out and bowl. We hope to get a chance out in the middle over the three days so we can get into a rhythm. If that's not the case, that's not the case, we'll bear with it, we've got to deal with the cards we're dealt.
On taking on one of the more challenging roles in international cricket:
I think any coaching role with any international cricket team is going to be a challenge. This one has its own significant challenges, what I'm encouraged about is that we've got a very good bunch of young players, they are very talented and people tend to forget how young they are. I think in the World Cup we were the second youngest squad in the whole tournament, if you take out Brian (Lara) and Shivy (Shivnarine Chanderpaul). We've got opportunities now to develop these young players and take them forward and we've got some very talented cricketers who just need to learn to play at the international level.
On having lost Brian Lara in the batting line up:
If you take a man out of a team who scored 11953 test runs, that's a big gap to fill. We're not going to get a replacement who is as good as Brian Lara, that's the bottom line because it just doesn't happen every day. This man is a once-in-a-generation cricketer. Having said that we've got guys who we are going put their hands up and do the very best they can for West Indies cricket. And I think we've got some guys here who can actually step up and score good quality runs at times that we need. In relation to the future of West Indies cricket if you look at the youth World Cups, Under 19 World Cups over the years, West Indies has always been there or thereabouts. They've got some very good cricketers at Under 19s, what we've got to do in the West Indies is be able to take them forward and allow them to make a transition into first class cricket and then international cricket and that's where we're falling down a bit at the moment.
On England as opposition:
England's last Test series was against Australia and they will want to make amends for that. They are a quality team, there is no doubt about it. I was in Australia during that Test series and they were in many of those games right up until crucial moments where Australia took the mettle. In relation to us we will do what we can control, we will probably change a few things and get a few processes in place where we need to, to allow us compete at the international level. We have to be able to compete at the international level very seriously.
On whether he is viewing this tour as a 'development tour':
Two and a half months, we're trying to win every game we can. There is no time in international cricket to have a development focus. Obviously we try to get players in and they are going to develop naturally through their participation at this level but no, nothing like a development tour.
On how difficult life will be post-Lara:
I didn't want him to retire. I think he is a fantastic cricketer and I'm sure the other people of world cricket think he is a fantastic cricketer. We are going to play the cards we're dealt, Brian has retired, he has left a good history behind him and we have to move on without Brian Lara. No one stops still for anyone in world cricket or world sport so we are going to move on without Brian. We are moving forward. Whether it was necessary or not, I don't think so but it is necessary for us to focus now. It's expected of these players to step up and if they don't then we are going to be in a bit of strife but we have players who will be able to step up and take the challenge.
On whether Lara allowed other batsmen the luxury of hiding behind him in the batting order:
I don't think we would hide behind him, we're always very happy when he scores runs as we are with any batter. I don't think he was a comfort blanket so to speak but look at any world team when they have a batter who they know can score runs at an average of 50 then he is always going to be someone who they are going to depend on, perhaps too much.
On what Ramnaresh Sarwan will bring to the leadership role:
He is a quality batsman. He is someone who I am going to be looking to, to start cranking up his batting average. He is a quality cricketer, he has excellent technical and tactical knowledge of the game which we haven't had an opportunity to see because he has been vice captain to Brian. I'm looking forward to seeing Ronnie captain the side and I think we will benefit from his knowledge in that regard.
On what Sarwan is likely to do differently to Lara:
I don't think Brian was deficient in any areas really but I think Ramnaresh will bring a different perspective. It will be fresh ideas and he will bring it across in a different fashion. He is younger than Brian so he is a bit closer to the group with regards to age so that gap might be shortened a little bit. | | | | Reads : 112 | | | |
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