Don’t write off Windies: Garner

AFP, LONDON: Joel Garner has warned against “writing the West Indies off too early” ahead of their upcoming Test series against England.

A three-match campaign starts with the first day/night Test ever staged in England, at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground on Thursday.

England, fresh from a 3-1 win over South Africa in a four-Test home series, will start as huge favourites.

Not only have the West Indies lost their last six Test series, they have been beaten in 14 of their most recent Tests in England and drawn the other three.

But fast-bowling great Garner, now the West Indies team manager, said Monday: “It's going to be some interesting times. I think people are writing the West Indies off too early and it could be at their own peril.”

And with a fast-bowling attack led by Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel, allied to a new work ethic being installed by Australian coach Stuart Law, Garner believes his side, who have played a day/night Test -- a hard-fought defeat by Pakistan in Dubai in October -- could yet upset the odds.

“Cricket is played in the middle at the end of the day,” Garner added at an event staged by series sponsors Investec in London on Monday. “I think the fellas have got talent.”

“It's who makes the greatest adjustment in the day/night game. Games between England and the West Indies are competitive. I wouldn't completely write them off.”

West Indies, however, have arrived in England without several star players including Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy -- the legacy of a bitter dispute with West Indies cricket officials and the fact that the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament is going on at home at the same time as the Test series.

While Cricket West Indies, as the West Indies Cricket Board is now known, recently granted an 'amnesty' in a bid to get senior players back on board ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England, it has come too late to alter the squad for the Test series.

“We will welcome them back because they are our better players but at the present moment we are here to play cricket,” said the 64-year-old Garner. “We've got to work with what we've got. We still have fight.

“We can't keep looking and saying 'we'll wait and see if the other players come back as well'.”

Garner, who stood for election as WICB president two years ago but lost to incumbent Whycliffe 'Dave' Cameron, said he felt relations between players and officials were improving.

“There's a lot more communication going on between the players and the officials,” he said. “It can only get better.”

Dont write off Windies: Garner

AFP, LONDON: Joel Garner has warned against writing the West Indies off too early ahead of their upcoming Test series against England. A three-match campaign starts with the first day/night Test ever staged in England, at Birminghams Edgbaston ground on Thursday. England, fresh from a 3-1 win over South Africa in a four-Test home series, will start as huge favourites. Not only have the West Indies lost their last six Test series, they have been beaten in 14 of their most recent Tests in England and drawn the other three. But fast-bowling great Garner, now the West Indies team manager, said Monday: Its going to be some interesting times. I think people are writing the West Indies off too early and it could be at their own peril. And with a fast-bowling attack led by Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel, allied to a new work ethic being installed by Australian coach Stuart Law, Garner believes his side, who have played a day/night Test -- a hard-fought defeat by Pakistan in Dubai in October -- could yet upset the odds. Cricket is played in the middle at the end of the day, Garner added at an event staged by series sponsors Investec in London on Monday. I think the fellas have got talent. Its who makes the greatest adjustment in the day/night game. Games between England and the West Indies are competitive. I wouldnt completely write them off. West Indies, however, have arrived in England without several star players including Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Darren Sammy -- the legacy of a bitter dispute with West Indies cricket officials and the fact that the Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 tournament is going on at home at the same time as the Test series. While Cricket West Indies, as the West Indies Cricket Board is now known, recently granted an amnesty in a bid to get senior players back on board ahead of the 2019 World Cup in England, it has come too late to alter the squad for the Test series. We will welcome them back because they are our better players but at the present moment we are here to play cricket, said the 64-year-old Garner. Weve got to work with what weve got. We still have fight. We cant keep looking and saying well wait and see if the other players come back as well. Garner, who stood for election as WICB president two years ago but lost to incumbent Whycliffe Dave Cameron, said he felt relations between players and officials were improving. Theres a lot more communication going on between the players and the officials, he said. It can only get better.