West Indies can regroup - Webster (10 March 1999)

10 March 1999

West Indies can regroup - Webster

Tony Cozier

Dr. Rudi Webster is going back into history to convince the West Indies team he now counsels that all is not lost because of their humiliating all out 51 in the first Test against Australia at the Queen's Park Oval on Monday.

The sports psychologist is using England's memorable fightback after their capitulation for 46 all out in the third Test on the same ground five years ago as an example of a team that regrouped to come back stronger.

Blown away by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh for their second lowest total in Tests, England were beaten by 147 runs, their third straight defeat.

In the following match, in Grenada, they were beaten by eight wickets by the President's XI, the West Indies reserves, when, according to Wisden, "the England tour touched its nadir".

"The persistent plagues on their ambitions - batting collapses, bowling inadequacies, dropped catches and untimely ailments - were all in evidence," Wisden reported.

Yet, within eight days, they were inflicting on the West Indies their first defeat in a Test at Kensington Oval in 59 years. They went on to draw the last Test in Antigua.

"It just goes to show that, no matter how low you are in sport, you can recover with a positive attitude and hard work," Webster said yesterday as he and the team management reflected on Monday's defeat by 312 runs in the first Test.

"Of course the players would feel down at present but I sense there is a determination to put things right," he said. "The spirit is still good and once they remain positive, they can compete."

Coach Malcolm Marshall can add his little bit to Webster's reference.

He and perennial fast bowler Courtney Walsh were in the team bowled out for 53 by Imran Khan and Abdul Qadir in the first Test of the 1986 series against Pakistan in Lahore, the previous West Indies Test low before Monday's debacle.

The West Indies were beaten by 186 runs but completely turned the tables in the second Test, bundling out Pakistan for 131 and 77 to win by an innings and 10 runs. The third and final Test was drawn.

Webster was appointed by the WICB on captain Brian Lara's recommendation following the tour of South Africa. He had two days only before the first Test to work with the team.

"He hasn't had much time and it will take a much longer period for him to have an effect on all the individuals in the team," Lara said after Monday's defeat.

"I think he is a positive influence and will do credit to the team. Hopefully, over a longer period of time, we'd understand where he is coming from and how much of a contribution he is going to make."

The captain added: "He's been trying to help me and that's good."

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)