PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – Australian coach Mickey Arthur has praised the resurgence of the West Indies team under his opposite number Ottis Gibson and captain Darren Sammy. Arthur was speaking in the wake of the Kensington Oval Test where Australia snatched a dramatic come-from-behind three-wicket win over West Indies, after trailing for most of the affair.
The South African-born Arthur said there was a new team spirit in the Windies camp which augured well for the future.
“A lot of credit must go to Ottis Gibson and Darren Sammy,” Arthur said.
“They’ve really turned this team around. They’re playing for each other; they’re playing with a spirit that’s great. It is just so good to see West Indies cricket on the up again. We’ve only got respect and admiration for what they’ve done.”
His comments echoed those of India coach Duncan Fletcher who also hailed the Windies development when his side toured the Caribbean last year.
He said the team was constantly improving, with both the batting and bowling showing signs of turning around, and described the team as a “professional unit”.
West Indies played with verve and determination to come from behind and carve out a 2-2 result in the five-match one-day series against the Aussies last month before also taking a share of the spoils in the two-match Twenty20 series.
They trail 0-1 in the current three-match Test series.