Coach Harper Calls Batsmen To Account

West Indies cricket coach Roger Harper wants his batsmen to think big. In fact, he really wants them to think bigger.

And the former Windies off-spinner believes the prince of regional cricket, Brian Lara, is about to come up with a royal innings on the ground where he hit a masterful 153 not out against Australia two years ago.

We're capable of doing better in every department, but I'm most concerned about our batting, Harper told the Daily Nation yesterday at Queen's Park after the team went through a spirited three-hour practice session two days before the start of the third Test against South Africa at Kensington Oval.

All of the batsmen have made very good contributions to the team effort, but on too many occasions they have not gone on to make really big scores after a good start, the former West Indies vice-captain added.

According to Harper, the batting in the first two Tests at Bourda, Guyana, and the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad, allowed the West Indies to be competitive through five days, but never gave them full control of either match.

A stone's throw away, the South African side had an intense session at Police Sports Club, Weymouth, and were assisted in the bowling department by enthusiastic members of the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme.

The batsmen need to commit themselves a bit more. The batting has kept us in the match, but we need to be in full control going into the last two days, and that can only happen if they go on to make centuries, and not be satisfied with just a good score, Harper said.

About the team's prize batsman, Lara, Harper said the Trinidadian star remained confident despite not reaching top form in the first two Tests against South Africa.

Brian has not been his most fluent self, even though he went into the 40s twice, but I expect him to come good very soon, the manager added.

Harper said there were no major injury worries as the team enters this match trailing 1-0 in the series, and he expects the South Africans to be even more upbeat after their thrilling win in Trinidad last week.

They are going to get better, since they are becoming more adjusted to the Caribbean conditions, so we'll have to raise our game as well.

The coach expects the pitch at Kensington Oval to assist batsmen. I looked at it during the recent three-day game, and it seems a good pitch.

It had some grass on it, and I expect the ball to come on true, so batsmen should be able to do well.

The way the team has been composed recently, a spinner has been used with success, and it's likely we'll have one again, but I can't say if we'll use two, Harper said in direct reference to 21-year-old Trinidad spinner Dave Mohammed being included in the 13-man squad.