Cricket: Gibson backs young guns to perform

West Indies coach ready to counter Bangladesh.

DHAKA:

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson backed his young players to perform during their tour of Bangladesh as he looks to build a team for the future.

The West Indies, led by all-rounder Darren Sammy, are scheduled to play two Tests, three One-Day Internationals (ODI) and a Twenty20 during the month-long tour. The tourists have four players on their maiden overseas tour – openers Danza Hyatt and Kieran Powell, all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite and leg-spinner Anthony Martin.

“Some of the youngsters have taken the opportunity and done very well for us,” said Gibson, a former West Indian paceman. “As we look ahead, we build around those young guys and some of the seniors.”

But the team travels without seasoned batsmen Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan while all-rounder Dwayne Bravo also misses out. There are some positive signs for the coach, including leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, who was named the Emerging Player of the Year after impressive Test and ODI form.

Bangladesh are expected to use spin to hem the tourists in on low, slow pitches, but Gibson said his team were prepared. “They have several spinners. But we believe we have done the work to enable us to do well.”  

Published in The Express Tribune, October 7^th, 2011.