West Indies under pressure to perform well

The West Indies under 19 team are in a relaxed and confident mood for the Youth World Cup. Cricket in the Caribbean will receive a great boost if they perform well. The current test side are being humbled by New Zealand and at home a passionate cricket watching public have become increasingly disillusioned.

Gus Logie, the inspirational former test player, is coach of the 15 man party. Speaking to CricInfo regarding the pressure his players are under and the interest this tournament is generating in the West Indies he said "yes they are feeling the pressure. There will be many people watching the youngsters who are coming through and many looking for the results of a number of recent cricket development programs conducted across the islands".

Among the batsmen, the experience of Ryan Hinds (captain) and Marlon Samuels (vice captain), both of whom played in South Africa two years ago, is important. Also in the middle order is the exciting Guyanese left hander Narsingh Deonarine. All three are useful backup spinners.

In the teams two victorious warm up matches each of the batsmen had the chance to spend time in the middle and apply themselves on the unfamiliar wickets in Sri Lanka.

Jamaicans Andrew Richardson and Jermaine Lawson will spearhead the bowling in an attack with good balance and depth. The bowling let the team down in South Africa 1998, most noticeably against Zimbabwe, forcing the West Indians out of the competition in the group stage. Coach Gus Logie remebers the game well. "Our total of 248 was made to look very ordinary. I am confident we will turn the tables around this time. Our bowling attack is much stronger".

The two teams meet in the first of the pool games on Tuesday in a tough group also containing defending champions England and the Americas. The West Indies will look to secure an early and give their campaign initial impetus.