Windies hard at work

WINDIES HARD AT WORK

 

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa - The West Indies cricket team have been having intense training sessions in the build-up to the first Test match against South Africa.

 

The team arrived in this coastal city on Saturday from East London and had a three-hour training session on Saturday evening. The players were back out again on Sunday afternoon for another three-hour session, including net sessions, fielding drills and strengthening and fitness exercises.

According to Head Coach John Dyson, this is good preparation for the first Test, which bowls of at 10:30 am (4:30 am Eastern Caribbean Time) on Wednesday, December 26 (Boxing Day). Dyson added that the Test matches will be vital and there is plenty to play for on both sides.

"It all starts on Wednesday. I believe we will do well out here in South Africa. We are here to do more than just competing. No one says it is going to be easy, but we hope to play well enough that if we get in good positions we can grab an advantage and push for a victory. What I would like at the end of the tour is to have everyone saying 'hey, these guys have played some amazing cricket'. That would please me," Dyson said.

"The efforts being put in by the players have been great. There is a lot of enthusiasm and the players are looking forward to playing. Our bowling attack is very good and we have a number of quality batsmen. What we need to do is get in positions where we can take advantage of any openings."

The West Indies and South Africa teams both attended an official function to launch the series in the Grahamstown Township on Sunday night. The West Indies will have another training session on Monday morning.