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The Jamaica Gleaner No let-up for Windies
Fitzroy Prendergast - 11 March 1999

There will be no let-up for the West Indies in the second Cable and Wireless Test match which begins on Saturday at Sabina Park.

As a matter of fact, Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh wants to use this series to gain some revenge.

``We have gotten some big defeats from the West Indies in the past, I wouldn't mind if we could deliver a few ourselves,'' Waugh said yesterday on arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport.

``We will be going out there to perform again and not think too much about what happened in Trinidad. We know the West Indies will be trying to get back into the series and our job is to prevent them from doing so,'' he said.

``The West Indies got beaten by over 300 runs but I thought they only started playing badly on the fourth day. For the first three days it was a tough Test.''

Waugh expects the wicket to offer assistance to spinners but says his team is prepared to handle any situation.

``I heard the pitch turned a lot in the Busta Cup competition and I would be happy with that because it would definitely help our spinners. But if not, we have lots of options.

``We have fun memories of Sabina Park. The last time we were here (1995), I made a double hundred and my brother got a hundred, we won the Test and won the series and I am hoping that things will turn out to be as pleasing.''

The West Indies team, which arrived with the Australians, looked solemn as they left the customs area of the airport and prepared to board the bus to the hotel.

Captain Brian Lara was consoled by a few spectators while manager Clive Lloyd spoke of the difficult task ahead.

``I expect that it is going to be quite difficult to get back into the series but Test cricket is tough,'' Lloyd said.

``We will be going all out to play some good cricket and hopefully it will be an exciting Test match.

``West Indies cricket is going through a dramatic period, it is going to take some time for us to get back to the top of world cricket. Right now, we have quite a few inexperienced players who are still learning their trade but we still want to go out there and keep on fighting,'' he said.

Daren Ganga, who missed the first Test because of a back injury, has recovered sufficiently. Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who it was thought would be ready for the second Test, is still troubled by a shoulder injury and did not make the trip to Jamaica.

Jamaica's offspinner Nehemiah Perry has been drafted into the West Indies 13-man squad following the humiliating 312-run loss in the first Test at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

West Indies squad: Sherwin Campbell, Suruj Ragoonath, Dave Joseph, Brian Lara (captain), Daren Ganga, Jimmy Adams, Lincoln Roberts, Ridley Jacobs, Nehemiah Perry, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Pedro Collins, Reon King.


Source: The Jamaica Gleaner