Windies look to new challenge in one dayers

ADELAIDE - The West Indies cricket team is hoping to make a fresh start in tomorrow's one-day clash with Australia A after a dismal Test series.

The day-night fixture at Adelaide Oval is an important match for the West Indies ahead of Thursday's one-day international series opener against Australia in Melbourne.

West Indies skipper Jimmy Adams, who will be rested from the Australia A match, said having the full support of his players had helped him handle the pressure of his team's 5-0 Test series loss to Australia.

"What has helped tremendously is the fact that the team is still behind me," Adams said.

"I've never wanted for support from the lads and I think that has made it a lot easier than probably it has appeared.

"It's not an ideal situation to be in but when you know that you have the team behind you, then it's alright."

And the one-day series marked a new beginning for the Windies. "It's the start of a brand new series and we have a lot of lads looking forward to the different format of the game, a faster version of the game," Adams said.

"This is a new challenge for us and we're looking up to it ... it's not going to be easy but I think the fellows are up to it."

The Windies have brought four players into their squad for the one-dayers.

Big-hitting Ricardo Powell, allrounder Laurie Williams, batsman Sylvester Joseph, and Cameron Chaffey, who replaces injured paceman Mervyn Dillon, come into the side.

Meanwhile Ramnaresh Sarwan, Courtney Browne, Kerry Jeremy and Courtney Walsh have been omitted.

Adams said the new faces in his squad had been a boost to the entire team.

"It helps, they've come here fresh physically and mentally and in the two days that they've been here it has been a lift for us having them around and we're hoping that that trend will continue," he said.

Not only will the Windies be hoping to overcome their Test losses and take some revenge on Australia, they will also be looking to improve their one-day international record after losing seven of their past 10 matches.

Those defeats include three at the hands of Zimbabwe, which is also part of this summer's Australian tri-series.

"We'd certainly like to close the gap on them (Australia)," Adams said.

"But we also have to deal with Zimbabwe, which at times can be a very tough one-day unit so it's going to be a very competitive series from that point of view."