…appointed vice-captain for current tour
BRISBANE, Australia, (CMC) – Denesh Ramdin has been appointed once again to the position of vice-captain of the West Indies side on their current tour of Australia.

No official announcement on the appointment was forthcoming from the West Indies Cricket Board, since his compatriot Dwayne Bravo may also have been in contention.

But Ramdin spoke to the media in Australia yesterday following the visitors’ first training session about his role in the team, and indicated that it places more responsibility on him to perform.

“It’s a huge responsibility to be vice-captain at the international level,” he said.

“But it is something I am really enjoying and I think I have been coping well so far. I get the full support of my teammates and everyone in the team’s support staff.”

He added: “I have been working hard on my personal game, and will be looking to improve in all areas.”

The 24-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman was one of several players that revolted against the West Indies Cricket Board, following a pay and contract dispute that rumbled on for close to three months.

The impasse led to the West Indies fielding a depleted side for a home series against Bangladesh and the Champions Trophy in South Africa.

But the WICB and the players have reached a strained truce that allowed West Indies to send a full-strength side to Australia that included four players that played during the period of the revolt.

Ramdin did not indicate if there was any tension in the camp, but he focussed on the work-out his side had just endured, and the challenge that Australia posed.

“We had a great session, and all the guys enjoyed it,” he said. “[This] was a really good start to our preparation for the Test series.

“It was a very hot day, but we got in a lot of work, and we are looking forward to some more intense work.”

He continued: “The team has come together well, and we all have a common purpose. The coaching staff and the captain [Chris Gayle] have spoken about working together as a unit and supporting each and that is what we are aiming to do.

“We believe we can do very well against Australia. They will play hard cricket, but we can be successful if we continue to work hard.”

He noted: “We have some World-class players, and if they perform the way they should, we will put up a good fight.”

West Indies also used the session to familiarise themselves with the Allan Border Field, where they will play a four-day, practice match against state side Queensland, starting on Wednesday.

The first Test against Ricky Ponting’s Baggy Greens starts on November 26 at the Gabba here, the second Test at the Adelaide Oval begins on December 4, and the third and final Test at the WACA in Perth commences on December 16.