WALSH_WI_CRICKET_22MAR1996

Walsh Says West Indies Can Return To Top

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 20 - NEW WEST INDIES` captain Courtney Walsh said he believes his team have the talent and skill to return to the top of world cricket.

Walsh has taken over from Richie Richardson, who resigned after West Indies` shock loss to Kenya at the recent World Cup.

"West Indies is still a force to be reckoned with at the highest level of world cricket and has all the talent and skill to again capture the imagination and respect of the cricketing world,`` Walsh said on Tuesday.

"All that is needed is for the talent which runs throughout the team to refresh and reorganise itself, work hard and again become hungry for success.``

Walsh, who previously led the West Indies in one test match against England in 1994 and on subsequent tours of India and New Zealand, refused to respond directly to suggestions that he could get more out of the team than Richardson.

"All I can say is that I will do the job as I see fit at the time. each person governs according to his own assessment and ability, and how he sums up the situation...it depends entirely on the circumstances and how they are assessed,`` he said.

Walsh paid tribute to Richardson, who at the age of 34 has also said he will be retiring from international cricket as a batsman.

"He will be sorely missed,`` Walsh said. "If he doesn`t play, a big hole will be left.``

Source:: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)