
Windies have wrong attitude, says Holding Cricket |
CMC Sunday, October 30, 2005
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BRISBANE, Australia (CMC) - West Indies fast bowling great Michael Holding has trashed the talk that the emerging West Indies fast bowling arsenal will put Australia under pressure in the forthcoming three-Test series.
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| HOLDING... this group does not possess the right attitude to win Test matches |
Holding, who will join the Channel Nine television commentary team for the series, has also accused Shivnarine Chanderpaul's side of having an attitude problem that will see them demolished in all three Tests. "People don't like to hear the truth, but this group does not possess the right attitude to win Test matches," Holding said.
"I'm concerned about their general focus. They aren't focussed on their game enough. They aren't focussed on representing the Windies enough." Holding, who took 249 wickets in 60 Tests as a cornerstone of the great West Indian fast bowling arsenal, added: "There are a number of West Indian cricketers today who have the wrong attitude.
"The performances of the best teams in the world are reflected by their attitude towards the game. Australia have that pride in performance, England now have it, but we don't."
West Indies have not won a Test in Australia since February 1997, but have oozed a quiet confidence, since arriving in Australia on Monday, since they believe their inexperienced attack could sting the Aussies. "It's unlikely they will take 20 wickets in a Test," Holding said. "Pace is not all-important. It's a matter of getting the ball in the right area and none of them has exhibited that for the past two years.
"This is not a new bowling attack. It's not like we can say we have seen gradual improvement from this group. We see good performances one day and mediocre performances the next.
"They are haphazard. Their performances are not something you can rely on. I truly hope they are competitive for the sake of West Indies cricket, but they can't win a Test on Australian pitches with this bowling attack." Asked if Australia would win the series in a clean sweep, Holding said: "The last time it was 5-0 and we had Courtney Walsh. Why won't it be 3-0 this time?"
Batting star Brian Lara and captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul are the only survivors from the Windies' last Test win in Australia - a 10-wicket victory at the WACA in 1997.
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