Hinds: Players committed to WI cricket

GEORGETOWN: Despite rumours of a possible players strike, century-maker Wavell Hinds said the West Indies team had always been committed to playing in the First Test against South Africa, which started yesterday. The 28-year-old Hinds, who recovered from a drop chance on 13 to score a brilliant 188 on the opening day of the Test, said in a post-match interview that the players were all committed to West Indies cricket. “We were committed from the time we joined the camp and put in the extra work and with the issues going on, there has been talk, but our goal is that we are first and foremost cricketers,” Hinds pointed out.

“West Indies cricket has been in the papers a lot negatively and the only way to put that straight is to come out on the playing field and show the people what we are worth.” Hinds and new captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made an unbeaten 102, shared a dominant 241-run, third wicket partnership that pushed the West Indies from 106 for three shortly after lunch. At the end of the first day’s play the new-look West Indies team was comfortably placed at 347 for three wickets. The hard hitting Jamaican, who is also vice president of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) that is at loggerheads with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), said that the only way to respond to the negative views of West Indies cricket recently was to go out onto the field and get the job done. 

“With all the things going on what we must be cognizant of is that West Indies cricket is bigger than any body and that is the common denominator with all things going on,” Hinds explained. “All we need to do is to put our heads down, play some good cricket and I think the powers that be will work themselves out.” The West Indies fielded an under-par team in the First Test with regular starters Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan ruled ineligible and Brian Lara opting not to play.

Hinds, who cracked 30 fours and two sixes in an innings that has so far lasted 230 balls and 360 minutes, looked fluent in his stroke play from the start of the day and attributed his good form to recent hard work. “I’ve been doing some work since the first training camp in November before going to Australia and it (form) has been improving and I intend to continue doing that and try to work on all the deficiencies in my game,” Hinds said. The century was Hinds’ fifth in Tests, after making his debut in the home series against Zimbabwe back in 2000. (CMC)