BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – David Williams acknowledges the enormity of the task, but he feels West Indies can spring a surprise, and topple Australia in their three-Test series, starting later this month.
Speaking hours before the team’s departure on Tuesday, the senior West Indies coach felt the unknown factor about some of his players could be their advantage against the Australians.
“Australia are not fully aware of some of the guys we have in our squad, so that is something that could probably work for us,” said Williams.
He added: “I think we have a good chance. In the last series we played against them in the Caribbean, it was very, very competitive, and we came very close to winning one of the three Tests.
“We want to try and do the same, so once we play to our potential, we have a very, very good chance of beating Australia.”
Williams also noted: “We have some experienced guys, and some young guys. It is all about meshing them together, and trying to get the senior guys to pull their weight, and the young guys to fill in.
“It has to be a total team effort if we are going to beat Australia. Every “man-jack” will have to play his part.”
West Indies’ preparation for the series has not been ideal. The last Test they played was against Bangladesh in July, and for the players that made themselves unavailable for selection during the recent impasse with the West Indies Cricket Board, it has been longer.
The players were all part of the recent WICB President’s Cup limited-overs competition, but this was badly hit by rain, and restricted the match practice of several players.
“We haven’t had much four-day, or five-day practice recently,” said Williams. “A few of the guys had a hit and a run-out in Guyana, but this was not the ideal thing.
“We have 13 days in Australia before the opening Test and this includes a four-day match against Queensland, so we will use this for our preparation.”
Williams said the players have to be prepared to work hard if they want to see success on the field in Australia.
“Sometimes, the success will not come immediately, but it will come at some time,” he said.
“Once we continue in that vein, we will begin to see this West Indies team take a few steps up the ladder. It is unfortunate what transpired over the last few months, but I am certain that once we continue working hard, and putting our heads together, we will continue up that ladder.”
West Indies are due to arrive in Australia today and will be in training until they play Queensland in a four-day match on November 18, their only warm-up match before the first Test begins in Brisbane eight days later.
The regional side will then play Tests in Adelaide (December 4-8) and in Perth (December 16-20) before returning home just before Christmas Day.