Windies moving to track opponents

Kingston - Lap-top computers might not yet be a common thing in West Indies cricket, but there are signs that the new management team is keen to gather data on opponents.

When the West Indies oppose Zimbabwe in the opening Test at the Queen's Park Oval starting Thursday, they will do so with some knowledge of the opposing players in spite of hardly playing against Test cricket's newest team.

Chairman of selectors Mike Findlay yesterday revealed that former Barbados wicket-keeper Darnley Boxill, who devised a special analytical scoring system nearly a decade ago, had been carefully following the tourists in the opening two matches of the tour in Grenada and Trinidad.

'He will provide The Management team with the kind of material that will analyse the play,' Findlay told a Press briefing on Saturday.

'From the data he has gathered, The Management team will be able to spot the weaknesses and strengths of the Zimbabwe team,' he said.

Coach Roger Harper also disclosed that they had acquired video of the Zimbabwe team in limited-overs matches.

West Indians viewing cricket from overseas often notice personnel from the opposing teams using lap-top computers and one journalist asked Harper if he was in possession of one.

'The answer to that question is yes, but the lap-top you're speaking of that the New Zealand coach was using had a special programme,' Harper said.

'Unfortunately, at the moment, we are not equipped with that special programme, but we have to remember that these things are just tools.

'We're looking into the availability of whatever tools there are that we can make the best use of that will help us.'