Windies aim to keep record

The once-mighty West Indies arrived for a three-month tour of Australia yesterday determined to end their decline and preserve one of their proudest records. West Indies have won just one of their last 15 away Tests, including a 3-1 series loss in England this year, but they are surprisingly upbeat about their prospects against Australia, currently the world's best team.

'We've come here to win a Test series. Everyone comes here to compete to win and we're no different,' West Indies captain Jimmy Adams told a news conference.

'With Australia's reputation at the minute, for any touring team to come here and play five Tests is the ultimate challenge in cricket and all the lads look at it that way.'

Adams said his team had an added incentive to do well against Steve Waugh's Australians, who are just one win away from equalling West Indies' world record of 11 consecutive Test wins, set between 1983-85.

Australia ended West Indies' streak in 1985 and while Waugh has made no secret of his ambition to break the existing mark, Adams is equally determined to prevent it.

'We're quite eager to make sure it doesn't happen,' Adams said.

Determined to end their form slump, West Indies selectors opted for what they hope will be a successful combination of youth and experience in their 16-player squad. But their hopes will still lie with their older brigade.

World Test record wicket-taker Courtney Walsh, with 483 wickets in 122 Tests, agreed to postpone his retirement to lead the attack, while Brian Lara will again have to shoulder much of the batting responsibility.

The tour includes five Tests against Australia and a triangular One- Day series also featuring Zimbabwe.

The West Indies' opening match is a festival style One-Day game in Perth on Tuesday.

The squad: Jimmy Adams (captain), Sherwin Campbell (vice-captain), Darren Ganga, Wavell Hinds, Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ridley Jacobs, Courtney Browne, Courtney Walsh, Nixon McLean, Mervyn Dillon, Colin Stuart, Marlon Black, Mahendra Nagamootoo and Kerry Jeremy.