PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Rookie teenaged West Indies opener Adrian Barath has revealed his frustration at having to watch the regional side struggle on the current one-day tour of Australia but believes the embattled side can hit back.
West Indies produced limp performances in the first two matches of the series to crash to a 113-run loss in Melbourne and an eight-wicket defeat in Adelaide.
The third match of the series was abandoned on Friday because of rain with West Indies chasing a revised total of 151 after dismissing the Aussies for 225.
“Being injured and just sitting by and watching the guys lose is very frustrating. It is really hard to see but these things happen,” said Barath who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since his maiden Test tour Down Under late last year.
“The guys are good players and once they get accustomed to the conditions down there, you would see a difference. They are currently facing an uphill battle in the series having lost the first two games but they can bounce back.”
The right-handed Barath became the youngster ever West Indies batsman to score a century in Tests when he reeled off 104 in the opening match at the Gabba last November.
However, he picked up an injury during the second Test in Adelaide and has not played since. He is among several first choice players missing from the tour through injury as Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shiv Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards have all been sidelined.
Barath, who turns 20 in April, said the young players currently on tour needed to learn as much as they could if their cricket were to improve.
“When I played in Australia for my first tour, it was a tremendous learning experience. I took in all that I could and this only help improved my game,” said Barath.
“I think the young players in Australia now must try to learn whatever they can and gain experience playing against the top players of the world. Their game would be better off after the experience.”
