KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC)

Mike Findlay, the newly appointed manager of the West Indies team, believes that the problems in West Indies cricket are very deep.

Declaring that the players are the product of their environments, the former West Indies wicketkeeper and chairman of selectors said that there is an urgent need for the arresting of the situation, "otherwise we will lose them."

More heart and discipline

Speaking this week at the launch of the Cable and Wireless telephone directory, which honours Vincentian international cricketers, Findlay - himself an honouree in the directory - said that the current players need to play cricket with more heart and discipline.

"Without discipline they can't reach far, discipline is important," said the 63-year-old Findlay, who will manage the Ramnaresh Sarwan led 15-man squad, picked Wednesday for a four Test series in England.

Findlay said it is easy to see what players are made of when you watch their performance on and off the field.

"You can tell who comes from stable homes," said Findlay, who played 10 Test matchesfor the West Indies from 1969 to 1973.

While Findlay conceded that the West Indies Cricket Board does not have the kind of money that powerhouse Test playing nations have to invest in the development of cricket, he believes that with more commitment, the West Indies team could ascend to higher levels in the game.