By Tony Becca - From The Boundary 
Tony Becca
THE West Indies 15-man squad, plus the reserves, are now in Antigua tuning up for the World Cup. Unlike a few months ago when hardly anyone gave the champions of 1975 and 1979 a chance, they are now being touted as possible contenders for the title, and as far as their psyche is concerned, that is good.
It is good for the simple reason that victory often times goes not to the most talented, but to the most confident. Just looking at or listening to the Jamaicans in the squad since their return from India and Bangladesh, and then reading what captain Carl Hooper and star batsman Brian Lara have said in the past few days, the West Indies appear to be growing in confidence as the tournament draws nearer.
"We have a very good chance of doing well, and I think a lot of teams will be foolish to underestimate us," said Hooper on his arrival in Antigua.
According to Hooper, the West Indies should make it to the Super Six.
"We have a good team and we can bring home the trophy," said a more confident Lara while saying he was medically fit and rearing to go.
Coming from the two senior players, that is great - and it is great for many reasons.
As Hooper also said, success will depend not on one or two individuals but on the entire team, and one reason why it is great is that such words of confidence should motivate the younger players - particularly those who in the past and for whatever reason have felt inferior in the presence of a great one like Lara.
Another reason why that is great is because Lara knows, or should also know that one man cannot win it, and by saying that "we have a good team and we can bring home the trophy", he is acknowledging the ability of the other players, particularly the young ones. Coming from him, that should also motivate them.
Although cricket is a team game, and even though it will take a team effort to perform well or to win the Cup, the success of the West Indies at the World Cup - on the pitches in South Africa - may well depend on the performance of Hooper and Lara and that is one other reason why what they have said is great.
It means that they themselves are motivated to win the Cup for the West Indies, and despite the inexperience of some of the youngsters, such is their talent that if Hooper and Lara are near their best, the West Indies will have a good chance of moving into the second round as Hooper believes they can do.
If they are at their best, the West Indies, despite their bowling and with a little luck, can even beat the odds and win it - as Lara believes they can do.
