Praise for West Indies Under-19

Jeff Broomes is singing the praises of the Young West Indies team for the exemplary attitude they displayed on their successful tour of England.

Additionally, manager Broomes believes the players should be given as many opportunities as possible at first-class level to build on the success.

I was impressed and pleased with the development the progress from start to finish, he said yesterday.

There was improvement in performances clearly, but, more importantly, there was improvement in attitudes. They were more focused on thinking the right way. They understand what it means to be successful.

The Brenton Parchment-led squad outplayed their English opponents for most of the summer in which they won a three-match Test' series 1-0, while clinching a close, thrilling limited-overs series by a 2-1 margin.

They started to understand the importance of making sacrifices to achieve. You must recognise that as you plan, others are planning too and you must stay focused, Broomes said.

The statement we were making all along is that success will come to that person who is able to apply more pressure, sustain it longer and respond to it better. Mental toughness was important.

The English were no pushovers either. They picked at least half-dozen players with experience on the county circuit, including Ian Bell, who represents Warwickshire alongside Barbadian all-rounder Vasbert Drakes.

The one disappointment for West Indies was the number of injuries that affected them towards the end of the three-month tour.

Broomes, however, said it was not a reflection of the fitness level among the squad. He went on to praise Trinidadian physiotherapist David Cumberbatch.

He worked very hard like a true professional and had the guys supremely fit. That was one of the reasons why we were able to outplay England. We were a fitter team, Broomes said.

In looking ahead to the future, the manager recommended that the players could develop further once they were able to force their way into their senior territorial sides.

In many ways, a lot will depend on them and their hunger for success to make it at a higher level, Broomes said. I am not sure that I would recommend that this group be kept together, because I don't like the idea of keeping together 19-year-olds.

They should be looking to get into their senior teams most of them are in already and work on their overall game.

Since he was not quite familiar with the programme of the Shell Cricket Academy of St George's University, Broomes said he was not sure if it was wise that the players be given a chance to be enrolled there.

I am not sure that an academy will do a Devon Smith any good, Broomes said. I am not quite sure of the academy's programme, so I can't speak on that, but I think the opportunity for them to play topflight cricket is what is needed.