Windies batsmen need more application, says Harper

West Indies coach Roger Harper has urged his team's batsmen to show more application in Australia this summer after the tourists' mixed batting in their opening first-class match.

Harper said on Monday he was unhappy with innings totals of 132 and 293 as the Windies lost by seven wickets to Western Australia on the fourth day of the match at the WACA Ground Sunday.

He was severely critical of the lack of application of his batsmen in the first innings and disappointed they failed to build on starts in the second.

Vice-captain Sherwin Campbell was the shining light with a seven-hour 119 in the second innings, but he was among the failures in the first-day collapse as the Windies lost 4-29.

"Our problem is still putting it together in the first innings and that was our main downfall here," Harper said. "Scoring 132 in the first innings of Test matches just won't cut it. We know that every game we play here will be tough and we have to play tough cricket and show a lot more character than we did in that first innings.

"I think we need to apply ourselves a little better and in this case we didn't adapt and adjust quickly enough to the extra pace and bounce of the WACA pitch after having to bat first."

Western Australian skipper Tom Moody predicted a long summer for the Windies, but said the squad would take some positives from the match.

"It's a hard introduction for any touring side to play at the WACA first-up, particularly the way it was playing because it was a quick, bouncy wicket," he said.

The Windies have only one more first-class match in which to lift their game, a four-day clash with Victoria, before the first Test begins at the 'Gabba, in Brisbane, Thursday week.

They were heading to Alice Springs Monday for a one-day match against a Ricky Ponting-led Northern Territory Invitation XI Tuesday.

Harper has been cagey on the make-up of Tuesday's team, but he has not ruled out playing champion veteran paceman Courtney Walsh for the first time on tour.

Team management say Walsh will definitely play against Victoria from Friday, along with star batsman Brian Lara, Nixon McLean and Ridley Jacobs. All four were rested from the Perth clash.

The tourists need the stars to hit their straps after the new brigade found the going tough in Perth.

Mail Cricket Editor