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Windies high on confidence
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October 23, 2006 19:03 IST
Last Updated: October 23, 2006 19:13 IST

West Indies [Images] coach Bennett King predicted a close game against India on Thursday, but claimed that recent successes against the hosts would provide his team added confidence.

"We are looking to a closely contested match. We have some good history against them [India] in the one-dayers. We have played here during the qualifiers also," King, a former head coach at the Australian Cricket Academy, said.

But he was quick to add that the 4-1 series victory in the Caribbean would not be a factor in the match.

"Tomorrow is a new game, a new challenge."

King said his side, which beat world champions Australia [Images] in the previous match, is working on their own game, rather than worrying on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition.

"We have certain areas we need to work on. We are now thinking about our own game, rather than about what others are doing. May be, in the next couple of days, we will think about the Indians."

Asked for an update on skipper Brian Lara's [Images] lower back spasm that prevented the Trinidadian from fielding in the previous game against Australia, he said, "Brian is still having his back worked on. We are expecting him to be fine for the match [against India]."

However, he said all his other players are fit.

The fact that the West Indies have three to four batsmen in the top ten of the ICC [Images] rankings, that also includes a couple of their bowlers, showed that they are a consistent side.

On Chris Gayle losing 30 per cent of his match fee for getting into an altercation with Australia's Michael Clarke [Images], he said, "He was a bit fired up. That was very unusual of Gayle to have responded that way. It shows there was something that must have made him so unhappy.

"But we have put everything behind. We now only want to move forward," King said.

Praising the new crop of West Indian pace bowlers, the coach said that they have a great future.

"I think history will be talking about them," he said, but refused to compare the likes of Corey Collimore, Ian Bradshaw and Jerome Taylore with their counterparts from other teams.

He also said that the presence of former captain Clive Lloyd [Images] is a big bonus for the side. "He helps around in the nets. He keeps talking about things that happened in the past. The players listen to him. They respect him."

King said the Caribbean side is short on support staff due to financial constraints.

"In that way also, Lloyd's presence is beneficial to us. We have to make good with whatever resources we have. Some other teams of course are blessed with better resources and finances," he added.

Runako Morton, man of the match against Australia, said the West Indies are high on confidence.

"But we are not taking it easy going into the match."



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