When Nationsport visited the team yesterday at Kensington Oval during one of their practice sessions, manager Tony Howard said: ÒThe guys are working hard and if they continue to put in the effort they will have the same success they had last year.Ó

This belief was echoed by team captain Philo Wallace, who in recognising his opponentsÕ strength, was also confident of his teamÕs ability.

ÒAlthough four of our players are on duty with the West Indies ÔAÕ team in (South Africa) I still believe we have a very good side and stand a good chance against Jamaica.Ó

He said the absence of batsman Floyd Reifer, wicket-keeper Ricky Hoyte, and pacers Pedro Collins and Ottis Gibson would not affect his teamÕs performance.

ÒWe had a similar incident last year and we won our first three games without the missing players (who were in Australia).Ó

ÒObviously Jamaica is going to have a very good bowling attack, spearheaded by captain Courtney Walsh, Franklyn Rose and Patrick Patterson, who is making a comeback.

Ò(But) I believe our batting is good.Ó

He mentioned himself, Sherwin Campbell, Adrian Griffith and Roland Holder, all Test players.

The match will be played at Sabina Park on a new turf. Neither Wallace nor Howard knew for sure whether it had been played on.

In fact Wallace said that when he was in Jamaica last October, for the inaugural Jamaican County Championship, the grass on the field was about three feet high.

In relation to The Management, Wallace openly admitted that he would have preferred last yearÕs manager David Holford.

However he believes Howard, like Holford a former West Indies player, can get the same commitment and effort from the team.

ÒIt is a bit unusual to have a man who was with a winning side not with you any longer,Ó the skipper said.

ÒHe had a real good programme going with the guys. He was the only manager in the Caribbean to be using a computer in cricket. However, deep inside we know that Howard wants to continue what Holford had started.Ó

Howard brings a philosophy to his new role Ð Work Hard!

Seeing his new job like any other Howard said: ÒManagement is working with people and The Management of a cricket team is just another job. I have been involved in the game for 32 years and I am familiar with all the nuances and intricacies related to it,Ó he added.

FULL SQUAD:

BATSMEN: Philo Wallace (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Adrian Griffith, Roland Holder, Horace Waldron, Sean Armstrong.

BOWLERS: Patterson Thompson, Hattian Graham, Marlon Blagrove, Winston Reid, Dave Marshall.

ALLROUNDER: Ian Bradshaw.

WICKET-KEEPER: Courtney Browne.

MANAGER: Tony Howard.

COACH: William Bourne