Packed agenda for Windies camp

A pair of day/night matches at the new, floodlit Airport Cricket Ground on January 23 and 26 will be a feature of the two-week preparatory camp for the West Indies World Cup cricket squad.

The two day/night contests will be part of the packed agenda for the team at the camp that runs from Monday, January 13, to Sunday, January 26, in Antigua before the team departs from Barbados on Tuesday, January 28, for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

"A significant emphasis will be placed on getting the team ready mentally, physically and technically, so we have designed a fairly balanced programme to help us achieve the objectives of the camp," remarked Ricky Skerritt, manager of the West Indies cricket team.

The first week of the camp will be conducted behind closed doors when the emphasis will be upon attaining optimum fitness levels for the squad. This will include strength and endurance training under the watchful eye of team coach Roger Harper and team trainer Ronald Rogers.

During this week, the team will also benefit from sessions from world-renowned American personal development trainer Bob Wieland assisted by Barbadian Errol Griffith.

The second week of the camp will focus mainly on the technical development of the players with nets and match simulations including the pair of day/night matches at the ACG, where most of the physical and technical training will take place.

Former West Indies fast bowlers, Andy Roberts, and fellow Antiguan Kenny Benjamin will assist Harper in the implementation of the performance objectives of the camp during the second week.

"Andy will be our specialist bowling coach during the camp, while Kenny has recently completed the WICB's Level II coaching certificate, has an intimate knowledge of South Africa, and will help Roger wherever there is a need," Skerritt said.

West Indies, World Cup champions in 1975 and 1979, meet host South Africa in the opening match of the competition and Pool B in Cape Town on February 9. The other five teams in Pool B are Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Kenya, Bangladesh and Canada.