3rd Test: West Indies v England at Bridgetown

The assistant coach, Paul Farbrace, has no intention of letting England be distracted ahead of the third Test in the West Indies - either by internal changes or external barbs.

England are 1-0 ahead going into Friday’s decider in Barbados, in sight of a first away series victory since India in December 2012. But they are also striving to keep other agendas out of their eyeline, with the England and Wales Cricket Board currently courting a high-profile director of cricket to take responsibility for the national side and a first Ashes gauntlet already laid down by Steve Smith.

There has thus far been more speculation than clarity around the recruitment of a new supremo – a position created after the managing director Paul Downton was sacked at the start of the Caribbean tour.

Former captains Andrew Strauss, Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart have all shown a tentative interest, though the precise job specification has yet to be made public.

England’s head coach, Peter Moores, and Farbrace himself, would be forgiven for wondering where they would stand should any of those voices enter the dressing room but one thing is certain: another win would go a long way towards strengthening their hand. And that is why Farbrace is content to let the process take its course while he helps prepare the team for action.

“You know in international sport you know that results are what it’s all about and if you’re not winning you know you’re under pressure, but you can’t worry every day about what might happen,” he said. “We have to think solely about what’s going on on the field, we can’t be distracted by what’s going on off the field. Credit to the players for that. Paul leaving at the start of this tour wasn’t something that any of us could see happening but the lads have got on and played and that’s the most important thing.”

Farbrace might be better placed than most to take a sanguine view on employment matters, having twice worked for the chaotic Sri Lankan Cricket Board.

“I had a grounding with my two and a bit years working with Sri Lanka,” he recalled wryly. “The first time I was there the board was dissolved three times. One night Muttiah Muralitharan told me I was sacked and the next day we were all reinstated. It was a motivational way to work really.”

There was also the distraction of some Antipodean trash-talking on Tuesday, with Smith claiming England would “not come close” to a full-strength Australia this summer. There are plenty of games to go for both sides before the next battle for the urn commences in July, and Farbrace was happy to let the first broadside slip by.

“There will be a lot of that,” he said. “Glenn McGrath will be coming out with his usual 5-0 prediction, everybody else will be having their say and that’s fine.

“Everyone’s looking forward to the summer but we think we’re making progress as a Test team and are quite settled. There are some exciting times ahead but the game this week is a big one for us. We can’t worry about what’s going on away from this team.”
THEGUARDIAN.COM

Antigua Observer article.

St John's, Antigua - Former West Indies captain Sir Viv Richards has brushed aside arguments that poorly prepared pitches at both the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground here in Antigua and the Grenada National Stadium played against the West Indies during the first and second Tests against England.

Admitting that the pitches, during both matches were not of the best quality, Sir Viv said the home team had equal opportunities to make runs but failed to capitalise.

“How can these wickets be so bad when our players keep getting out at crucial times but when you look at the wicket itself, especially the one that we had here in Antigua & Barbuda, the one in Grenada, apart from maybe the first day, where we saw some slight movements and seam movements in the air and things like that, Antigua is pretty much dead. They are good batting wickets and this is why I felt West Indies missed a wonderful opportunity,” he said.

Last day heroics from Jason Holder, who made 103 from 216 deliveries, ensured a draw for West Indies in the first Test in Antigua, while England won the second Test by nine wickets in Grenada.

Sir Viv said players hoping to make a name for themselves should take advantage of the opportunity to get as many runs as possible.

“They’re going to become times when the wickets are going to be doing much more than that and then you would be struggling, so whenever you meet wickets that are quite conducive to your play then you to try and make hay while the sun shines,” the former skipper said.

“We are as good at striking the ball as any, but sometimes our thinking process at crucial times in matches is just letting us down,” Sir Viv added.

West Indies go into the third and final Test against England in Barbados, starting Friday needing a victory to level the series.