Dear Editor

I was somewhat disappointed that there is to be a cricket test match here in Antigua and the ABCA ad WICB casually took their time to notify us cricket fans that tickets are available in your newspaper on July 21 with the Test match starting on July 25 versus New Zealand.

I hope that the Windies, having won the shorter form of the game, change their mindset and realise that test matches are five days and require a lot of self-discipline if they are to reach the top of the test ratings in the next four or five years.

There are only two players currently in the team who are very disciplined – Chanderpaul and Samuels.

I do hope that the other members of the team recognise self-discipline is very important, and not listen to the unfounded accusation that Chanderpaul is selfish.

An excellent example of self-discipline is that exercised by Graham Smith and Hashim Amla of South Africa, currently playing against England.

Coach Gibson should make sure that all of the Windies team watch the video of South Africa’s first innings reply to England’s 385 runs, and impress on them that ones and two are as important as boundaries.

By using their feet, they avoid being caught on the crease and the dreaded LBW decision, keeping the shine on one side of the ball by all of the team, bowling at the base of the stumps/wickets and bowlers being motivated and encouraged by the team and, in particular, by the captain.

Test cricket is a game of concentration, tactics, anticipation and self-discipline. Eighteen years playing bat and ball is far too long languishing near the bottom of the ratings. We need success from now on. Go Windies, go.