Hooper PORT-OF-SPAIN, CANA:
WEST Indies cricket team manager Ricky Skerritt has showered praise on the leadership of new captain Carl Hooper.
Hooper in first match at the helm led West Indies to a draw against South Africa in the opening 2001 Cable & Wireless Test which ended at Bourda Oval in Georgetown on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Hilton Trinidad following the arrival of the regional team in this twin island on Wednesday morning, Skerritt said he was somewhat relieved Hooper was able to come through so well and has set the stage for an interesting series against the South Africans.
"I am pleased with Carl (Hooper), in terms of how he led the team amidst the pre-match build-up," Skerritt remarked.
"He has done well in the First Test and it is certainly a positive sign for the remainder of the series."
Skerritt said the team's performance at Bourda was extremely encouraging and expects it will continue in that trend.
The West Indies manager said all members of the 13-man squad were fit and had net and physical sessions at Queen's Park Oval on Thursday in preparation for the second Test match, starting on Saturday.
The South Africans, with Shaun Pollock at the helm, also arrived in Trinidad on Wednesday and were also to practise at Queen's Park Oval on Thursday.
Pollock said he was looking towards the second Test with optimism.
Meanwhile, former West Indies Test opening batsman Bryan Davis, who has been supervising preparation of the pitch for Saturday's Test, said he expected plenty runs to be scored.
Davis, who has overseen the preparation of Test pitches at Queen's Park Oval during the last four years, said generally it will be a surface which will produce "a lot of runs".
His view was shared by head groundsman, Curtis Roberts, who said the pitch was being rolled by the heavy mechanical roller and as such the bounce will be much more consistent than before.
