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Richards backs West Indies’ confidence
Sir Vivian Richards at the Know your boundaries exercise
By Edison Jefford
Sir Vivian Richards believes that West Indies’ confidence from winning the recent Test Series against England and the solitary Twenty/20 International will propel the team to further victory in the current ODI Series.
Richards was speaking to members of the media at a Johnnie Walker campaign on Main Street Thursday where the concept of ‘don’t drink and drive’ was being promoted under the theme ‘Know Your Boundaries’.
“I think once you have that confidence, you are expected to win. The way, in which they performed, I felt that they wanted to win matches. Usually they gave up when their backs were against the wall,” Richards said.
The former West Indian lead batsman, who is now the Brand Ambassador for the whisky in the Caribbean, said that there is now a level of application among the batsmen that was not akin to the team in the last four years.
The West Indies have had creditable performances against England, Pakistan and New Zealand in the last nine months, which have led critics to believe that the once formidable team is turning the corner toward competitiveness.
“When you look and see the way the guys are applying themselves, I will totally relate it with what I am doing here. The guys are taking responsibility. There is consistency that was lacking in the past,” he observed.
Part of the Richards’ ‘Know Your Boundaries’ campaign is to encourage drinkers to do so responsibly. He said the fact that West Indies players are taking responsibility for their performances is a positive step forward.
“It is great. It is great to have people who believe that West Indies have definitely turned the corner,” the nicknamed ‘master blaster’ indicated, after stating that the regional team have the proven ability to outplay England.
However, Sunday proved the foundation of the confidence that Richards spoke of is strong since the embarrassing defeat in the first ODI on Friday where the West Indies coach’s blunder sent them down.
England Captain, Andrew Strauss had noted at a post match press conference on Friday that his team was desperately in need of a win. The revelation meant that England felt they were morally ahead entering Sunday’s contest.
On the other hand, Windies skipper Chris Gayle had said that the team will be keen to put the blunder behind them. The result of the second ODI Sunday determined that the team have done so and can move onto an emphatic series triumph.
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