Legends join Windies ranks

The West Indies have called in two former greats of the game as they prepare for their Test series against New Zealand. Legendary allrounder Sir Garfield Sobers and intimidating fast bowler Sir Curtly Ambrose are with the squad in Bridgetown, before the team departs for Jamaica next Wednesday. The first Test starts on June 8. Sobers will work with the batsman during the three-day warm-up match at the 3Ws Oval, while Ambrose has been brought in as the new bowling consultant and will stay with the team after the Test series for the two T20 internationals. Past great West Indies teams had a battery of fearsome fast bowlers to choose from, and coach Ottis Gibson hopes the return of one of those legends will inspire and elevate his side’s quick men. “Sir Curtly is heavily involved in cricket here with the Combined Campuses & Colleges and is making a contribution to West Indies cricket in that way, so the feeling is to get him to come in and mentor the good bowlers that we have and try to see if he can inspire them through his experiences to turn themselves into great bowlers,” Gibson said. “He’s obviously led the West Indies bowling attack and done it very well over his career, so hopefully he will impart some knowledge and pass on some of his experiences onto the guys.” The presence of arguably the greatest all-round cricketer ever providing his wealth of experience, especially to the young batsman in the squad is priceless, according to Gibson. “Sir Garry is the best of the best and it is great to have him join us. He is still an avid watcher of
the game, so he sees a lot of things. He is here to pass on his knowledge over so many years of doing it,” he said. “The guys like Darren Bravo and young Kieran Powell have been very receptive, and his wisdom will not be lost on the experienced guys like Shiv Chanderpaul and Marlon Samuels either. All the guys will get the opportunity to speak to Sir Garry about their game, which can only be a good thing for us. “Hopefully, over the next couple of days, the guys will really use him as a springboard for where they are in their game and what he thinks they need to do to take their game to the next level.”

Source - cricket.com.au