This will be the final tour for Richie Richardson as West Indies team manager following which he will take up the role of ICC match referee.
©REUTERS / Action Images
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We have to back ourselves to win - Richie Richardson
West Indies team manager Sir Richie Richardson expressed that the players must back themselves to win in the upcoming Test series against Australia which gets underway on 10th December in Hobart.
Under the captaincy of Jason Holder, West Indies, currently have a relatively young team with most of the players playing their first Test series on Australian soil.
Despite the recent run of poor results Richardson is of the view that the young West Indies team is looking to establish themselves by gaining the experience of playing in Australia.
Richardson also urged the players to adopt a positive mindset and work hard looking for ways to win against Australia.
“I really don’t see question marks.
“We’ve got a young team that we are grooming and moulding.
“We are hoping that they can get as much experience as possible.
“Australia is a great place to play cricket, wonderful facilities and great weather.
“We are looking to establish ourselves and the young players will be looking to gain as much experience as possible and try and compete with Australia.
“Question marks? I don’t look at it that way.
“I hope the players aren’t thinking that way because that is negative.
“We’ve got to be positive, it is a game of cricket and we are playing at the highest level.
“We are professionals, so we have to work hard, train hard and back ourselves and look to win.”
Australia themselves are currently undergoing a period of transition after the 2015 Ashes with retirements of players like Michael Clarke, Ryan Harris, Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson.
However players like Steven Smith and David Warner are in an excellent run of form with both of them having scored over 1200 Test runs in 2015.
Earlier this week West Indies captain Jason Holder said that his team will try to target the Australian middle-order to exploit their weaknesses.
Refusing to underestimate any member of the Australian side Richardson has asked his players to believe in themselves in order to play against one of the best sides in world cricket.
“Well, (we are looking at) everybody.
“When I played the game I never underestimated anyone.
“Obviously Australia are a top side and have world class players.
“On any given day you can get the better of somebody and you’ve got to back yourselves.
“You have to believe that you can get somebody out.
“You’ve got to believe that you can score a hundred against the best bowlers in the world.
“That’s how I played the sport and when I speak to the players, that’s how I talk to them.
“It does not matter who you are playing against, it does not matter how good somebody is.
“You have to believe you can conquer.
“If you do that you start to gain respect, you start to find yourself being on the same level as them and probably going past them."
West Indies are currently involved in a four-day tour match against Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane which is their only practice match ahead of the tour.
Aiming to get the most out of the tour match Richardson is confident that West Indies will have adequate practice under their belt heading into the first Test.
“The conditions have been excellent and we have been training well.
“We are looking forward to the match starting tomorrow and we are looking to get as much out of that leading into the first Test against Australia in Hobart.”
The last time West Indies won a Test series in Australia was in 1992-93 where they beat the hosts 2-1 in a five-match contest.
© Cricket World 2015
