Skerritt confident despite Lara's absence

West Indies team manager Ricky Skerritt may be feeling under the weather, but he was well enough on Friday to talk up his team's chances ahead of their one-day international double-header in Bulawayo this weekend.

West Indies play India on Saturday and Zimbabwe on Sunday after an eight-day break since winning their opening game of the triangular tournament against the hosts in Harare.

Skerritt was forced to miss the squad's visit to a game park on Wednesday as a mystery bug laid him low in his hotel room.

But he oversaw net practice on Friday as they prepared for their challenging weekend schedule.

"The guys are having fun and enjoying their cricket," Skerritt said.

"It took them a week or so to adjust to the conditions here, especially the cold mornings, but as long as the guys keep enjoying themselves you're going to see good cricket from this side.

"It's just a question as to whether we can achieve the level of consistency which a young team like ours has not been able to get in the recent past."

The manager confirmed that Wavell Hinds would replace Brian Lara in the Test side.

Hinds was due to return to the Caribbean after the one-day tournament, but stays with the squad after Lara was forced to leave the tour early with a long-term hamstring injury.

ABSENT LARA

Skerritt said it was only natural that the West Indies should feel the loss of Lara, but hoped Carl Hooper's young side could still win without him.

"You must feel the loss of Brian Lara at any time. Brian has the ability, especially in one-day cricket, to work magic," Skerritt said.

"He's taken games almost single-handedly away from the opposition.

"We are looking beyond that now, though. Brian has taken the rest he needs and the young players are out there giving it their best shot."

West Indies have only played one competitive match during their break from the triangular tournament, a 153-run thrashing of Zimbabwe 'A' in Harare last Tuesday.

"It was a pretty good Zimbabwe team on paper but they didn't play very well," Skerritt said.

"The guys were certainly keen to get back out in the middle, and Tuesday's game turned out to be a good day out.

"We broke the week up with training and relaxation."

West Indies play their final group game against India at the Harare Sports Club next Wednesday.

One win from their last three games will be enough to see them through to next Saturday's final.

India currently lead the triangular standings with two victories from their first two games, with the hosts Zimbabwe in bottom spot after losing all three of their one-day matches.

Mail Cricket Editor