By Anthony Foster, Gleaner Writer
West Indies captain Brian Lara (right), uncapped fast bowler Fidel Edwards (centre) and Jerome Taylor on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport, Kingston, yesterday. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
WEST INDIES captain Brian Lara and coach Gus Logie expressed happiness with their team's performance in the first Cable and Wireless Test match against Sri Lanka, which ended in a draw in St. Lucia on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters after both teams arrived in the island at the Norman Manley International Air-port Lara and Logie said they believed the young West Indies team has shown improvement.
Lara said, "To overhaul the Sri Lankan total (354) was good. I think psychologically we have gained some ground on them and hopefully things will be great for us here (Jamaica).
"It's a one-off game now," the captain added. "Any team that plays well and takes the advantage is going to win. We will want to be that team, so it's important for us to go out there, play hard cricket, get everything together, plan our game properly and execute properly," Lara said.
Meanwhile, coach Logie said that consistency was the key factor in St. Lucia and he hopes the team will continue in that vein. "We are quite pleased with the consistency shown so far in the batting, and in the bowling, the bowlers have also shown they can bowl teams out, having done that against Sri Lanka," Gus Logie said.
"We will be looking to continue in the same vein, we want to continue what we have been doing so far in the past few weeks and months," he added.
Logie, a former West Indies middle-order batsman who played 52 Tests, also made special mention of Brian Lara's double hundred. "He always leads from in front," said Logie.
Sri Lankan captain, Hashan Tillekeratne, was not a happy man, especially after winning the toss and electing to bat. "We should have scored over 400 runs, because 354 was not
over 400 runs, because 354 was not good enough on a good batting pitch," he said. "We want to do well in this match," Tillekeratne said. "A victory at Sabina Park will be very important, because we have never won a Test match in the Caribbean."
Logie is banking on the bowling unit to dash the hopes of the Sri Lankans. "It has been an area (bowling department) of concern over the past few months, but we have seen where young Taylor (Jerome) has came in and although he has not taken any wickets, he has done well, but I am certain here (Jamaica) is the best place to do that," Logie said.
Like Logie, Lara had a lot of positives to say about Taylor. "He is 19 years old and you can't ask for much from him. He understands the game. The way he bowls... his line and length, the different deliveries he bowls, it's far beyond his age and I was very, very impressed," Lara said.
Uncapped Bajan fast bowler Fidel Edwards, a surprise name in the 14-man squad, also came in for praise from Lara and Logie. "What I saw from him in the nets was quite impressive. He is in pretty good shape for a young player and that is what we are looking for. We are need young fast bowlers who can get it up there as quickly as possible and he seems to fit that role," said Logie.
Lara also defended Edwards' selection. "We have to take in consideration the fact that we will not have any cricket for the next three months before we head off to Zimbabwe, so we want to make sure we have the right group of guys around, and it's an opportunity for us to see if he plays or not.
