Hooper's has high hopes

West Indies captain Carl Hooper arrived in Antigua Monday looking fit and ready and promising a good World Cup.

Buoyed by their recent success in the shortened version of the game in recent months, Hooper said it would be folly for teams to underestimate them.

"We have a very good chance of doing well. We have been playing good One-Day cricket for the last year now and there's no reason why we shouldn't continue. I expect us to play well in this World Cup," Hooper said after his arrival from Australia to join the team for an extensive two-week camp.

"I expect that we will go through to the second round. I think that over the last three months we have shown we have got the measure of teams like New Zealand and India - certainly in One-Day cricket."

The West Indies captain added that it would require a total team effort for the regional side to win the Cup they last lifted in 1979.

"I don't think we can highlight one or two individuals," he said. "Obviously, there are some key guys in the side but, as we have shown in the last couple of months, the young players are coming through and they are beginning to score heavily.

One worry

"I see no reason why that shouldn't continue."

He had one worry.

"Our one concern over the last couple of months has probably been the bowling," he said.

"Looking back at that last series in India, we probably have been going for a little bit. There have been high scores.

"Having said that, the wickets were extremely good. We have got a chance to put that right in the next of couple of weeks and then in South Africa."

Hooper is returning to the West Indies team after missing the recent tour of Bangladesh because of a knee injury that required surgery, which was performed in Australia.

"I had both legs done about five weeks ago and they have recovered well. I've been back to training for two-and-a-half weeks now so, hopefully, I'll put in the final touches before we head off to South Africa.

"It was not anything major. I had a good doctor. He came highly recommended and he did a good job. It was my first time under the knife. It was comfortable and everything went smoothly and the rehab work has been good," he said.

Hooper returned to the nets during the last ten days in South Australia, but was restricted to practising with a bowling machine.

"I'm looking forward to the camp. I had almost six weeks' break so that would have done me good, but we have got a lot of cricket coming up. We have got the World Cup, the Aussies and the Sri Lankans, a lot to look forward to."