Too many Windies players still learning trade - Lloyd
Guyana Chronicle
March 16, 2007
KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – West Indies team coordinator Clive Lloyd said this week he was concerned about the number of inexperienced regional players who had advanced to the international level.
The former captain, who led the West Indies in successive World Cup triumphs in 1975 and 1979, noted that while the Caribbean side was represented by talented players, too many of them were still learning the game.
Lloyd, 62, also admitted the current side was not as strong as the West Indies teams that claimed the first two World Cup tournaments in England.
“We don’t have the players of that calibre. We have players who can rise to the occasion once they can put their minds to the task. The point is we have a lot of players who are still learning the trade. They learn at work, which is unfortunate,” Lloyd told CMC Sports.
“It’s very difficult to learn the trade when you should have learnt all the rudiments of the game, and we have that problem getting guys to understand certain things. There are too many things you have to tell them when they get to this level, which is a bit late.”
Following their 54-run victory against Pakistan in Tuesday’s opening match at Sabina Park, Lloyd said the West Indies would need the will to win and the right attitude, if they were to reclaim their title as world champions.
“You can’t come in to one-day cricket searching for form. If West Indies can just turn the corner and be more consistent with their play … we’ll beat anybody,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd also stressed the importance of practice and consistency, as the West Indies prepare to face Zimbabwe on Monday in their second, preliminary round Group D match.
Lloyd said Brian Lara’s side needed to focus on their game, play “smart cricket” and bowl out their opposition as quickly as possible, throughout the competition.
“It’s one-day cricket, anything can happen. When the right team turns up, if our guys get all disciplines right, I think we can be a match for anybody like we did in the last ICC Champions Trophy,” he said.