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Windies confident of taking on Proteas

Mike Findlay, chairman of the West Indies selection committee, said that the success of the side against England, four months ago, should give it confidence ahead of a tough winter tour of South Africa.

"We are encouraged by the success of the team, which defeated England in both the Test and one day international series here in the Caribbean earlier this year," Findlay said after announcing the 16-member squad to tour South Africa from November.

"Those successes have been magnified by England's recent defeat of South Africa," Findlay said.

The Windies had defeated England 3-1 in the six Test series, and 4-1 in the ODI series in April. England bounced back to defeat South Africa 2-1 at home just last week, and this Sunday, defeated world champions Sri Lanka in their first encounter in the ongoing one-day triangular series.

"That result has placed the forthcoming West Indies versus South Africa series in greater focus," Findlay said.

"The Windies are scheduled to take on Australia at home early in 1999, and then there is World Cup in England from May next year, so the nine months between October this year and June 1999 could be a very exciting period for West Indies cricket," Findlay said.

Findlay, however, went on to warn of a current drought in talent.

"We have selected what is, in our opinion, the best possible side giving careful consideration to the ability, performance, discipline, attitude and commitment of the available talent, which appears to be dwindling in quality," he said.

The West Indies will compete in the ICC knockout tournament in Bangladesh in late October before beginning their five-Test tour of South Africa on November ten.

The squad of 16 for Bangladesh reads: Brian Lara (captain), Carl Hooper (vice captain), Curtley Ambrose, Keith Arthurton, Shivnaraine Chanderpaul, Mervyn Dillon, Ridley Jacobs, Clayton Lambert, Rawl Lewis, Neil McGarrell, Nixon McLean, Phil Simmons, Philo Wallace, Stuart Williams.

Squad of 16 for South Africa: Brian Lara (captain), Carl Hooper (vice captain), Jimmy Adams, Curtley Ambrose, Shivnaraine Chanderpaul, Mervyn Dillon, Darren Ganga, Ridley Jacobs, Clayton Lambert, Nixon McLean, Junior Murray, Dinanth Ramnaraine, Franklyn Rose, Philo Wallace, Courtney Walsh, and Stuart Williams.