CHANDIGARH, India, CMC – With a week-long break between games, West Indies ensured there would be no complacency in their World Cup quest as they turned in a three-hour training session here yesterday. The Caribbean lads focussed mainly on fitness and fielding drills as they went through their paces at the Sector 16 Cricket Ground under the care of head coach Ottis Gibson.
West Indies are preparing for their next assignment against Ireland on Friday at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. They have won two of their three games so far, crushing the Netherlands by 215 runs and hammering Bangladesh by nine wickets four days ago in their last outing. They lost their opening match to South Africa by seven wickets. Pacer Kemar Roach, who has led the Windies attack admirably with 10 wickets, said they would be taking no chances against the Irish who upset England last Wednesday to claim their only win in three matches so far.
“We will put our best foot forward when we play against Ireland later this week,” the 22-year-old said. “They are a good team and they are playing good cricket, so we are not taking things for granted and will play our best game against. We are going to go out there and give our best shot.” West Indies have four points from three matches and a win over Ireland will put them firmly on course for the quarter-finals as one of the four teams progressing from Group B.Following the Ireland clash, West Indies wind down their preliminary round schedule with testing matches against England in Chennai on March 17 and pre-tournament favourites India three days later in the same city.
