The Hindu : Confident Caribbeans take on Kiwis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 21, 2002

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Confident Caribbeans take on Kiwis

BRIDGETOWN June 20. The West Indies goes into the first Test against New Zealand tomorrow with coach Roger Harper convinced the side was at last beginning to reverse years of decline.

``The team has grown quite a bit. Obviously we still have quite a way to go, but it is pleasing to see the way it is coming together,'' Harper said.

The 3-1 series win over New Zealand in the one-dayers, coming on the back of a 2-1 Test home series victory against India, has helped restore some badly-needed West Indian optimism after a string of heavy defeats in recent seasons.

New Zealand, meanwhile — third in the world rankings compared to its host's sixth place — goes into the first game of the two-Test series at the Kensington Oval armed with as much determination as frustration after losing the one-dayers. In Sunday's final game it set 291 only for the West Indies to overhaul the target at St. Vincent.

The teams:

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Brian Lara (vice-captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Cameron Cuffy, Mervyn Dillon, Chris Gayle, Ryan Hinds, Wavell Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Darren Powell, Adam Sanford and Ramnaresh Sarwan.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Chris Harris, Robbie Hart, Matt Horne, Craig McMillan, Chris Martin, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, Daniel Vettori and Lou Vincent.— Reuters

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