FORMER West Indian batting great Richie Richardson has called on the team to have self-belief ahead of what is expected to be a difficult tour of Australia.Coming off a disastrous tour of Sri Lanka, the relatively young West Indies team, led by 24-year-old skipper Jason Holder, will have it all to do to make any impression against the world number-three ranked team.

“We have to back ourselves and look to win. We have a young team we are moulding. Our players will be looking to establish themselves and gain as much experience as possible,” Richardson said.

The regional team’s recent record against the Austrailians is not likely to provide any encouragement with the team having last won a Test in Australia in 1997 and last won a series Down Under in 1992-93. The last time the teams met on Caribbean soil it was the Aussies that also coasted to a comfortable victory.

“When I played the game I never underestimated anyone,” said Richardson.

“On any given day, you can get the better of somebody, but you have to back yourselves. That’s how I played the game and that’s how I talk to the players. You have to believe you can conquer.
If you do that, you start to gain respect, you start to find yourself being on the same level as them and probably going past them.”

(Sportsmax.com)