Positive signs from WI

The returns from West Indies batsmen in Australia within the past week have certainly given fans much more comfort and reason to believe they are truly better than their performances in the first two Tests suggested.

While we still await a reversal of the terrible fortune that has dogged us on overseas campaigns, a sense of purpose and determination seems to be creeping back into our batting line-up.

It began in a One-Day game versus the Prime Minister's XI on December 7 and has continued into the ongoing third Test.

We hope the squad can be buoyed by the type of efforts that brought Daren Ganga 97 in the One-Day game; Brian Lara and Ridley Jacobs, 231 and 131 respectively against Australia "A" and Lara's sparkling 182 in the Adelaide Test.

Wavell Hinds has also been showing the kind of aggression and self-confidence necessary to succeed at the wicket while captain Jimmy Adams has shown glimpses of his trademark dependability in the middle order. These are definitely encouraging signs as the West Indies team stands at the crossroads of this five- Test series.

There has been a lot of debate about how much of cricket-and sports in generalis mental. While opinions on this vary, two indisputable things are that a little confidence goes a long way and that away from the familiar surroundings of home-in this case our lovely Caribbean-this is even more crucial in conquering an opponent; especially one to whom winning has become virtually habitual.

To underline just how much these heartening scores have bolstered the team, one reporter covering the tour recently wrote: "Suddenly a buoyancy has replaced the hang-dog look that increasingly typified the West Indian mood."

We must note that Australia's battle is being waged off the field also and the warfare has been almost lethal with the repeated taunting of the West Indies team, particularly Lara, in the media and by some Aussie supporters.

Constant remarks, too, by management of the Australian team, questioning the capability of key West Indies players, have not gone unnoticed.

However, if we are to get back into this series, our boys will have to handle this off-pitch aspect of the game as well as they will be required to combat the Aussie bowling attack for the rest of this tour.

The family of West Indies cricket wishes to pay tribute to one of cricket's legends, Lord Colin Cowdrey, who died on December 5 in his homeland England.

In a Test career spanning 20 years, the former England captain revealed himself as one of his country's best post-war bastmen, scoring 7 624 runs (average 44.06) which included 22 centuries. He was also a reliable slip fielder taking 120 catches; back then a Test record for a non-wicketkeeper.

Lord Cowdrey seemed destined for cricketing heights from birth when his father gave him the initials MCC: Michael Colin Cowdrey. West Indians will particularly remember his middle-order partnership with Peter May in a mammoth stand of 411 against Sonny Ramadhin and company in 1957. Cowdrey's contribution was 154.

He also exhibited great courage versus the 1963 West Indies team at Lord's when he returned to the crease, at the fall of the ninth English batsman, to save the game.

Earlier in the innings, he had broken his arm.

Cowdrey served his beloved sport in administrative capacities until the early 1990s. He was president of MCC from 1986-87 and between 1989 and 1993 he was chairman of the International Cricket Council. Neutral umpires, match referees and a code of conduct for players came into existence during his stewardship.

He was knighted in 1992.

May he rest in peace.