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Coach Gibson looks at the way ahead

27/02/10

New Head Coach Ottis Gibson has come to the job with a clear focus on what he wants to achieve and where he wants to take West Indies cricket. The former Windies allrounder who was “blessed and honoured” to play two Tests and 14 ODIs in the 1990s shared some of his thoughts on the way forward for the West Indies team as they prepare to face Zimbabwe in the one-off Digicel T20 International at Queen’s Park Oval on Sunday.

“What we have got to try and do is look ahead to what we have coming up and plan and prepare very well for that. If we can do that we will take steps towards going into the Digicel Series and looking to win it. We have to get together as a group and outline what needs to be done and what are the key challenges we face and how I want to see how things shaping,” Gibson said.

“I don’t know what went on before, I was not there. What I do know is that in the make-up of a cricketer you have technical aspects, the tactical aspects, the physical attributes, the mental aspects and [the ability] to cope with the demands of international sport. All those are key areas I am concerned about … We can identify a brand of cricket we want to represent as a team. And when people come into the stands and watch us they can see this is what we’re trying to do.”

The former England bowling coach added: “England has a lot of financial resources that they can call on to get things done. The West Indies Cricket Board is not in the same position and we have to accept that but there are basic things that we can do to try and start and those are the things I will be focusing on. We know we have to work hard and build with what we have. Once we are prepared to work we will start to go in the right direction and we will get the results everyone is looking for.”

Gibson will get a close look at his players when the Windies will have a training session on Saturday morning as they get ready for Sunday’s series opener. This will be followed by the first and second Digicel ODIs at the Guyana National Stadium (Thursday March 4; Saturday March 6). The series then moves to the Arnos Vale Playing Field in St Vincent for three Digicel ODIs on (Wednesday March 10; Friday March 12; Sunday March 14).