Windies for 2011 World Cup
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent, (CMC) – With the ICC Cricket World Cup less than a year away, West Indies coach Ottis Gibson says his focus is already on getting the team prepared for the major showpiece in Asia.
Acknowledging that he had limited time in which to work with the regional side in match situations before then, Gibson said it was important to use the one-day series against Zimbabwe to launch the groundwork for moulding an effective unit.
He said he was already experimenting with the batting line up so he could find a settled order before the start of the February 19 to April 2 tournament.
“I’ve just been here for two weeks now and I’m still getting to know the players and getting to know which player fits which position best so there’s been a little bit of shuffling,” Gibson explained.
“The thinking behind that is that we’ve got literally 12 games left before the next Cricket World Cup in India next year so I’ve got 12 opportunities to see players, to see where they best fit so that by the time we get to the World Cup there’s no shuffling.
“[Up to] the last five games before the World Cup there [should be] no shuffling. [I would have] got a clear indication in my mind who I want to play in what position and players understand that … I’ve said that to them.”
West Indies will contest Group B of the tournament scheduled to be played across India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Before that, they will do battle in the Twenty20 World Championship at home in the Caribbean before taking on South Africa in three Tests and five One-Day Internationals also at home.
He explained that was why our-of-sorts wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin had been promoted to number four in the third ODI here at the Arnos Vale Stadium on Wednesday.
“Ramdin going up the order was another one of those situations where I wanted to see what Ramdin can do at the top of the order,” the former Windies fast bowler pointed out.
“The way I see the series is using [it] as an opportunity to see players, see where else they can play other than the position they’ve been picked to play in and then see if there’s moulding that you need to do because you might need to mould a player that you want in your team.”
He stressed: “At the end of the day … it’s all about the team, it’s all about helping the team to win. If you have to play a different role or bat in a different position or bowl in a different situation to help the team win and you’re capable of doing that, then it makes your case for selection stronger.”
West Indies lead the current Zimbabwe series 3-1 after losing the first game but bouncing back to win the next three. The series concludes with the final match here Sunday.