The challenge Down Under - WICB column

Sunday-22-October-2000: As another West Indies senior squad prepares to take on a lengthy assignment on foreign soil, there is understandably much debate, and even scepticism, about what fate awaits our 16 men during their three months in Australia. We hardly need to recount the dismal details of our recent Test exploits overseas which have reaped 13 defeats as opposed to just one victory in the last 15 matches.

Against this backdrop, the task of equalling and, dare we say, bettering the Aussies on their home ground is all the more challenging.

It will be a very tough task for a team that continues to be in transition and one that is still grappling with the reality that few players from our various territories are making that giant step from first-class to Test cricket easily or successfully.

A number of individuals have received the opportunity and in many cases, more than one opportunity to show their mettle on the highest stage of cricket and have, unfortunately, failed to produce as all fans of West Indies cricket would have wished.

Given our 3-1 Test loss to England in the summer series, selectors had their work cut out to determine who should be picked for the series Down Under.

In the end, their choice has been a combination of the best experience we have available to us at present plus some of the most talented young players in the region.

Three of those chosen Colin Stuart of Guyana, Trinidadian Marlon Black and Kerry Jeremy of the Leeward Islands will be making their first trip with a senior Test squad.

This bowling trio has shown ability and promise in regional competition and in various representative matches. The three will join Nixon McLean, Mervyn Dillon and, of course, world record-holder for the most Test wickets, Courtney Walsh, in the bowling attack.

It is indeed a great fillip for the team that Walsh, who boasts 483 Test scalps, decided to make himself available for selection. His experience and guile, born of 16 years playing at international level will be an invaluable asset to the young men following in his footsteps as well as to the team as a whole.

The retirement of Walsh's pace partner, the magnificent Curtly Ambrose, will indeed be a significant loss, especially on such a long tour. However, we are confident that Dillon, McLean and company who have been waiting to assume a leading role can step forward to fill the breech ably.

The batting, which has also been a real worry, will revolve around captain Jimmy Adams; vice-captain and opening batsman Sherwin Campbell; world record-holder Brian Lara, and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Relative newcomers Wavell Hinds and Ram-naresh Sarwan will also be expected to shoulder some responsibility in a line-up that has often been brittle and inconsistent in recent years.

Consistency is certainly the name of the game and Adams, who has enjoyed some of the best and endured some of the worst of West Indies cricket in his career, is keenly aware how much this is necessary against the current No. 1 powerhouses in Test cricket and thereafter.

The struggle for consistent success, particularly outside of the Caribbean, has been eluding the West Indies and Adams understands that is the crux of our problem.

Speaking in a recent interview, he said: "The bottom line for any team is winning, obviously, butI would like to look beyond that and be able to say that, after three months in Australia, we can start playing with some sort of consistency away from home."

All of us fans of Windies cricket dearly hope so too and we wish our entire squad, particularly those new to the Test scene, the best of luck as they embark upon this Christmas tour Down Under. Let us make the New Year a fresh and prosperous beginning for West Indies cricket.