OTHER SPORT
SARWAN AGREES TO ADOPT PARTY LINE
By Neil Squires
The West Indies, once the party animals of world cricket, have been placed under an 11.30pm curfew for the duration of their two-month tour of England.
The Cinderella directive has been handed down by the West Indies Cricket Board in an effort to improve discipline
following reports of off-field excesses during the World Cup.
It was not the first time temptation has got the better of the side – on their last tour to England in 2004 there was
reputed to be a lot more success off the field than on it – and with a new coach and captain, they are desperate for a new outlook.
“We have never had a curfew before but that is in place now. I don’t think the boys will have a problem with that,” said
captain Ramnaresh Sarwan.
“In any sport, discipline plays a major part. When we played at home there was speculation about guys being indisciplined – people tend to point fingers when you aren’t winning – but the board probably realised a few things happened and they felt they needed to crack down and that’s what they did. I support the board in wanting to move the team forward, so we will have to monitor it carefully.
“The board have said very clearly that they are not going to tolerate any indisciplined behaviour and the management team also said that to the players. You have to draw a line. We are just hoping nothing gets out of hand and everyone looks in the same direction.”
The man cracking the whip will be new manager Mike Findlay, the former West Indies wicketkeeper, who has warned the 15-man squad that if they step out of line they will be punished. Each player has been issued with a code of conduct handbook, covering everything from diet to punctuality.
“I think a manager has to be like a father to the guys, meaning that he has to be able to reach out to them, but at the same time he has to be able to discipline them if they need to be disciplined,” he said.
“They are big men. They know what they are expected to do. Their primary focus in England, of course, will be cricket. What we have done is put together a vision for the redevelopment of West Indies cricket and a mission for the tour of England. That mission is to win.”
It is a tall order. The West Indies have not won an overseas Test since they beat Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in 2003.
Since then, the West Indies have lost 16 of the 19 Tests they have played outside the Caribbean, the three draws all being rain-affected.
The downpour which greeted them as their team bus drove through the Vivian Richards Gates at Taunton yesterday was markedly less helpful with just seven days’ preparation ahead of the first Test.
Sarwan, who, being Guyanese, is more familiar with rain than most, conceded he was worried his side would go into Lord’s undercooked.
“It is a bit of a concern. Since the World Cup we haven’t played too many games back home and coming into the first Test here you want some kind of practice because the conditions are totally different,” said Sarwan, who in 11 Tests against England has never tasted victory.
“Nevertheless we are a professional group of players and we have to adapt to whatever situation is thrown at us.
“West Indies cricket is in a bit of turmoil and it’s important for this group of young guys to try to pull together. It won’t happen overnight but everyone seems to be in good spirits.
“Both teams come into this series under pressure. We didn’t play at the World Cup, but England will be a bit low on
confidence too. They have toured Australia recently and didn’t do that well in the Tests. It’s an opportunity for both teams to revive themselves.”
If the weather relents coach David Moore – an Australian who was assistant to previous coach Bennett King – hopes to persuade Somerset to let him use all his squad in the three-day match starting tomorrow.
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