Silently, without much fanfare, the West Indies cricket team left the Caribbean for their short, but very important, tour of New Zealand. This time last year, there was very much noise and fuss about the ensuing first tour of South Africa by the Caribbean's top cricket team.

While the send-offs for the two tours have been very dissimilar, the importance of the two tours can be construed as basically being the same, even though the actual coverage would be different. In South Africa, the tour was to "bond" West Indian cricket to South Africa's, on and off the field, politically and sports-wise, as this was the first official Test tour of that country by a West Indies team.

The New Zealand tour could be used for something even more important, from a different perspective, for the protracted success of cricket in the Caribbean. The West Indies cricket team needs badly to "bond" itself, find itself as a cricket team. They have to do this rather quickly.

The new coach, Sir Vivian Richards, has suggested that this is a great opportunity for the West Indies team to really start producing, and "gelling" together. I could not agree more with Sir Viv.

Incidentally, you may remember that way back in January last, after the beating we took from South Africa, that I suggested Sir Viv as the best candidate to be the coach. My hope has now become a reality.

No one anywhere can produce properly without specific discipline. The West Indies team over the last five years or so, in every facet of the game, needed that specific tough discipline in their game, especially on the field of play, to really account for 100% effort and perhaps, 100% production. While Viv would probably not be the most diplomatic person, per se', no one could doubt his drive and objective.

After really checking out the composition of the team, I can now agree, for the very first time since the word made its appearance in West Indies cricket (it seems eons ago) that the West Indies team is now implementing a "transition" to the future. Gone, hopefully forever, are the regurgitating days of recycling players by the selectors.

This is a very inexperienced team. Only six of the players have actually played more than 10 Tests. Here is a quick run-down of the Test appearances of this touring team. Brian Lara (63), Sherwin Campbell (34), Adrian Griffith (3), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (35), Jimmy Adams (37), Wavell Hinds (0), Ricardo Powell (0), Ridley Jacobs (9), Nehemiah Perry (3), Courtney Walsh (110), Pedro Collins (3), Merve Dillon (7), Dininath Ramnarine (2), Reon King (1), Franklin Rose (11), Darren Ganga (3).

It is quickly obvious that the bulk of the experience lies with Lara, Campbell, Chanderpaul, Adams and Walsh. While the responsibilities of cohesiveness and production must be shared equally by all, these five, as the "leaders", must show the greatest examples to follow.

Recent experiences of Christmas tours have been extremely disheartening and tremendously disappointing.

The outright ineptitude and even sometimes lack of aptitude evident in that South African debacle is still very fresh in the minds of most. 5-0 in Tests and 6-1 in the ODI's was not what we expected this time last year when the Brian Lara-led West Indies team toured South Africa. In Pakistan for the 1997/8 Christmas tour, the preamble to South Africa occurred. Pakistan beat the Courtney Walsh-led West Indies team 3-0, winning by an innings twice and by ten wickets in the other Test. By all accounts, the contest was not even that close.

In 1996-97, Australia beat the West Indies 3-2 in Australia, while in 1994-95, India and West Indies drew 1-1 in India. 1995-96 only contained a one day series in Australia featuring Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Australia.

Hence, this is a very important Test tour and building period for West Indies cricket.

Despite all of the "hoop-la" of recent international cricket, the West Indies have played only seven Tests so far in 1999, losing two to South Africa, losing two to Australia and winning two against Australia. Those two Test wins against Australia may have been the actual savior of many situations, on and off the field, for West Indian cricket, as it heralded a great comeback from being 2-0 down at one time in that series.

It certainly was a great comeback for captain Brian Lara, both personally and team-wise. His cricketing integrity may have been on the line against Australia. His 546 runs in that series literally bailed himself and the West Indies team out of very "deep doo-doo" indeed.

However, as was mentioned by both the sadly late departed coach, Malcolm Marshall, and the present manager, Clive Lloyd, the West Indies team must find a way to win on tour much more regularly. Winning at home is fine, as one is accustomed to the conditions. Winning away is special. The new coach, Sir Viv has even suggested, ironically, that this short tour to New Zealand of only 2 Tests and 5 One Day Internationals could, even would, be a "long, tough tour." At least, Sir Viv is a realist.

It should also be noted that New Zealand have not done too badly recently. While they lost to India, a very disappointing end, for them, to that series, they did manage to beat England, against all odds, in England just after the World Cup earlier this year. One may even suggest that the two teams, the West Indies and New Zealand, are about at the same level now, like two ships passing in the night. The ultimate directions of the two teams will be evident after this tour.

Quite simply, whatever else is suggested, the West Indies MUST win this series with New Zealand, short as it is. While a draw in a 2-Test series is always a good possibility in those wet conditions, the thought of the West Indies losing should not even exist. Please remember 1980, when we were beaten 1-0 in three Tests.

While Courtney Walsh, that colossus of world fast bowlers, will be looking to finally break Kapil Dev's Test wicket-taking record, it is very much more important for him to lead, as he always does, from the front. His presence is invaluable to the young, sometimes energetic but often misguided fast bowlers. I could even believe what Sir Viv said; "We are more interested in that record than Courtney himself!!" Walsh just wants to perform.

Pedro Collins would probably do well in New Zealand. For him, it is a pity that the tour is not longer. His left handed fast-medium stuff, pitched up to a good length on those soft pitches, could be a handful to batsmen. No one can fault his attitude at all.

So too for Franklin Rose, these days. He is probably the best prospect for wickets in NZ because he actually swings the ball around well, keeps the ball at a good length, and is not carried away often with "his" thoughts that he may be a world's fast bowler. He has come back well, and I expect much from him, as his attitude, energies and ability seem, now, to be channeled in the right direction, to play good cricket.

Mere Dillon and Reon King are two that much is also expected of. Merve still has to ensure that he brings the self-confidence of being a Test "fast" bowler, as opposed to being the sometimes No. 4 bowler in the team. Whenever he gets to bowl, he must be a fast bowler. It is as simple as that.

Reon King, it has been suggested, is the most improved bowler in the Caribbean this year. While his no-ball problem has evaporated somewhat, and he is much quicker and stronger, and he is keeping the ball to a fuller length, I still think he lacks that certain aggression to remind the world that he is indeed a fast bowler of the highest order! He has improved markedly though, and simply has to continue in the vein of the recent past.

Dininath Ramnarine and Nehemiah Perry, the leg-spinner and off-spinner in the team, are in the same boat. They may not even get into the Test team, if the conditions are as wet as normal. However, for now and the future, they must be patient. Both are coming off injury problems, so patience is the key.

Ridley Jacobs, as the only real wicket-keeper on the tour, will have his work cut out for him behind the stumps. One expects his normal efficient 'keeping. His batting has fallen off somewhat in the recent one day games, but that is not a fair situation to gauge from. Test cricket is so very different from one day cricket.

The West Indies batting will obviously hinge around Lara, Chanderpaul, Campbell and Adams. All are very accomplished at this level, with Test batting averages of 51.98, 42.05, 35.91 and 47.33 respectively. There will be great responsibility on these batsmen to show the way to the younger, inexperienced ones.

Adrian Griffith, averaging 19.00 from his three Tests and Darren Ganga, averaging 12.50 from his three Tests, have got to prove that they can play at the higher levels. As opening batsmen, they have to reach for that next level of achievement. It is no longer good enough simply to be in the team. Performances, even as "future" prospects, are necessary now.

Neither Ricardo Powell nor Wavell Hinds have played a Test match yet. Both, however, especially Powell, have demonstrated, in the shorter one day game, that they are wonderful strikers of the ball. That, though, does not necessarily make a good Test batsman. Temperament more than ability sometimes is necessary for success at the highest level of the game. One would hope that both Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv would have some considerable input into their immediate futures.

So, although this tour is so short, by most standards, it should not be taken lightly. It is of great importance if we are to believe, and agree, that, firstly, the "transition" is being properly implemented and secondly, to effect a new attitude and achievements for the new year and millenium. It is a tough tour indeed.

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