Shattered Windies still considering psychologist
The beleaguered West Indies cricket side are still considering using a sports psychologist to lift morale before the third Test, which starts January 15 in Adelaide.
But no decision has been made only 10 days out from the crucial match in which a further Australian win, after victories in the first two Tests in Brisbane and Perth, would seal the series.
Tour manager Ricky Skerritt Tuesday scotched stories quoting captain Jimmy Adams as saying a formal request for a motivator had been sent to the West Indies Cricket Board.
Skerritt said he had contacted a Perth sports psychologist, Dr Neil McLean, who was now overseas and returning Wednesday.
"He was generous to me with his thoughts and his expertise in this area, but we have not made a decision to use him, nor has he made himself available at this stage," Skerritt said.
"I will talk with him again. He has given me what you could call a friendly consultation on the role of a sports psychologist, and whether or not introducing one to this squad at this point is goiong to make a big improvement.
"No final decision has been made, no request has been put forward to the West Indies Board.
"Within the team, we are able to bring in short-term consultants without having approval from the board."
Skerritt said he had no doubt players could benefit from advice from a psychologist.
"There is no question about that - it is more a matter of where you start," he said.
"We don't have a development base with mental skills training, as you have in Australia.
"A lot of your players have been getting specific mental skills training since the age of 14 or younger, so when they are at Test level they understand what a sports psycholgist does, they understand the benefit of having someone for even short periods.
"So it is more a matter of fine-tuning and a reaffirmation of certain principles they have adapted.
"Our players do not have any history of that, so it has to be done on an individual basis as well as a group basis."
On the injury front, several players, apart from accomplished batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul - who has been sidelined for up to another month - have injury problems.
Fast bowler Mervyn Dillon, who trod on a stray bottle on the field in the first Test in Brisbane, has a bruised bone in his left heal. He has been ruled out of Thursday's match between the tourists and the Prime Minister's X1 in Canberra.
Leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo has twisted an ankle during training and is receiving treatment.
Ace batsman Brian Lara continues to have treatment for a hamstring injury and was unable to practise Tuesday. He is considered doubtful for Thursday's match. Doctors have advised him to rest for several days.
The good news for the tourists is that 20-year-old fast bowler Kerry Jeremy, who broke his jaw in the side's opening first-class game in Perth almost a month ago, has been given a fully-fit rating by the surgeon who operated on the injury.
"He is not match fit, but we are very optimistic about his return to the team very soon," Skerritt said.
Mail Cricket Editor
