This primarily is the mission on which our first full tour to South Africa is based, along with the need to put an end to negative utterings from all quarters and restore the high esteem in which our game was held not so long ago.

Of course, getting back to the top, which we view as our rightful place, is not going to be easy and we are fully aware of the hard work, commitment, dedication and sweat necessary to return to the glory days.

We expect the South Africa tour to be a real test of the attributes associated with champions and every player is preparing for a tough and demanding series.

Since their re-entry to international cricket, South Africa has been very competitive, despite losing their last series to England and we expect to see the tenacity and fighting spirit that they have been exhibiting since their re-entry into international cricket.

Though out of the international game for a while during the ugly days of apartheid, they have held their own in world cricket and I think we are going up against a team that is capable of playing the game very well.

Once our players remain focused and always aware that the South Africans are capable of beating us, I know we can raise our game to the required level.

One factor in our favour is that this is not the first tour to South Africa for a number of our players as we have been there for a One-Day series and Clayton Lambert has played first class and club cricket there.

Though limited, some of us have experience of playing in South Africa and the atmosphere there. Therefore, although it is the first full tour involving Test matches and my first as captain, I still believe that we can successfully cope with the challenge.

Good performance

In my opinion, we did very well in our last series against England, both in the Tests and One-Day matches.

Clayton Lambert and Philo Wallace have given us a fresh look to the opening spots and Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh – our fast bowling stalwarts – are still doing very well in international cricket.

With all things considered, I really feel we have a team that is capable of beating South Africa. Based on our performance against England, with the tightening of the screws in a few critical areas, I think we can do well against most Test playing countries.

Our squad to South Africa is a good mix of youth and experience, with at least 10 players returning from the squad that played against England in the Caribbean.

We have included some young players for the tour, with at least four or five of them still under 25, and are hoping that the experience which they can gain will serve West Indies cricket in good stead.

Personally, I was happy that my first assignment as captain was at home against England benefiting from the support of the home crowd.

I think we are getting together quite quickly as a team.

I am already seeing a common focus and a clear vision of where we want to take West Indies cricket.

I expect team spirit to be high for the three or so months of the tour as I have tried to touch base with each individual player, seeking to find out how he is motivated and assisting him in giving 100 per cent for the benefit of the team.

In South Africa, all West Indians can expect to see a team fighting for the West Indies with a common cause, a team that is united, seeking to win and to do all West Indian people proud.

Brian Lara is captain of the West Indies cricket team.

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