WICB boss urges team to go for series win over Proteas

ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) - West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) President Dr Julian Hunte has praised the touring Windies for their fighting effort against South Africa in Cape Town in spite of their defeat inside four days.

Hobbled by injuries to key players Chris Gayle (captain), and fast bowler Fidel Edwards, one of the heroes of the first Test triumph at Port Elizabeth, West Indies showed courage and resisted the South African surge for victory as well as they could.

"Looking at the end of the second Test, what impressed me and all the rest of us in the Caribbean was the fighting spirit displayed by our team," Dr Hunte said in a letter to team manager, Clive Lloyd.

"This is the first time in a long time that we have not lost a series after the first two games. More, the team spirit is higher than it has ever been and the team more united than ever before. Please convey to everyone in the squad our best wishes. Regroup, rethink, re-energise and review but never retreat," the letter to Lloyd was reported to have said in part.
West Indies had delivered an unprecedented victory in Port Elizabeth the previous week, crushing the home side by 128 runs for their first ever Test success in South Africa, but the Proteas completed a seven-wicket triumph on Saturday to square the series at 1-1.

Already with a hamstring strain, Gayle had a further setback when he suffered a fractured thumb, struck by an Andre Nel delivery.

But the wounded warrior endured the pain and risk of further injury by lashing a brave 38 off 48 balls with four fours and three sixes to briefly frustrate South Africa's winning surge.
Edwards also appeared at the end and struck 21 in 44 minutes batting with a runner before the Caribbean side's innings folded for 262.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul finished on 70 not out and Dr Hunte believes the unit displayed resilience even in defeat.

"Fidel Edwards limping in to bat; the other bowlers, especially (Dwayne) Bravo, trying to make up for Fidel's absence from the field; Gayle returning to bat with a broken thumb and with his hamstring injury still not fully healed; Chanderpaul digging in and staying there; and everybody else sticking to their task," Dr Hunte said.

"We were beaten, but we were not disgraced or defeated. This was a battle but the war is still to be won and we can win it," added Dr Hunte, who took over as WICB president last year when Ken Gordon resigned.

The deciding third Test starts Thursday in Durban and the odds are stacked against the West Indies against the resurgent Proteas, especially after Gayle confirmed yesterday that he is out of the match.

But Dr Hunte urged the squad to remain positive and to press for a series victory.

"Go forward to the next Test match knowing that you can win it. Learn from the past, but face the future with optimism and with the knowledge that you have the ability, you have the talent and you have demonstrated the determination," he said.