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After our defeat on the recent tour of South Africa, the focus of the West Indies team now shifts to the 1999 tour of the Caribbean by Australia.

The Australians, under a new captain, are expected in the region this week for four Tests and seven One-Day Internationals. We expect a testing tour in our backyard, as we host the unofficial world champions of Test cricket, and we need to learn quickly from recent experience.

Understandably, West Indians all over the world are deeply hurt and upset by the below par performance of our team in South Africa, but one of the hallmarks of West Indies cricket has been our ability to bounce back. Now more than ever, our players clearly need to endeavour to play to their full potential.

In their efforts to do so, our team needs the support and encouragement of everyone to assist them in what will be a difficult series against a strong Australian side.

It is against this background that The Management of the team and the captain met with a WICB sub-committee for one-and-a-half days on their return to the Caribbean in order to review the South Africa tour and chart the way forward.

The findings will be forwarded to the board meeting on February 22. We have also been taking note of the many constructive suggestions made by cricket fans across the Caribbean. We know what cricket means to you and appreciate your concern. We have even received written submissions from some interested parties. These too are always welcome.

Shortly after the board meeting, the selectors will meet to choose the team for the Australia series.

Lessons

A few lessons that players selected for the Australia series can learn from the South African experience (whether they were there or not) are that a lot of work has to be done to reach and remain at the top of their game; that determination and self-belief are essential components of winning teams; and consequently that it is possible to come back from defeat. The South Africans who were beaten by the West Indies just six years ago are living testimony to all of this.

To this end, we were very keen on having an extensive camp prior to the Australian tour, but with just three weeks between tours and the Busta Cup in between, it was not possible to schedule such a camp. We will, however, be implementing measures to help the players cope more effectively with the Australian series. These would be short-term but the outcome of the tour to South Africa also reinforces the WICB's position that we must rebuild with a long-term plan.

To this end the WICB has been implementing a cricket development programme throughout the region, but it will be some time before the benefits are evident since the focus is primarily on young players. Under the supervision of director of coaching, Reg Scarlett, the WICB has held numerous clinics, seminars and coaching programmes at various levels and in all aspects of the game. These will continue at an increased rate during the coming year.

In the short term, we all look forward to our team performing as we know they are capable of and returning some joy to West Indies cricket.

Questions and comments to Across The Board can be sent to the:

West Indies Cricket Board,
St. John's Wood, Antigua

E-Mail: WICB@candw.ag
Fax: (268) 460-5452 or

Saunders-Franklyn Associates Inc.,
Suite No. 4, Wildey Shopping Plaza,
St. Michael

E-Mail: saunders@caribsurf.com
Fax: (246) 437-5593.