MOORE BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
COACH DAVID Moore has identified getting acclimatised to conditions quickly as the first order of business for the West Indies team visiting England this month.
The team, under the leadership of new captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, jetted out of the Caribbean on Tuesday to begin a four-Test series against the English.
"They have just come off a very long spell of one-day interna-ionals (ODIs), so we have to get back in the grooveof Test cricket," Moore told reporters prior to the side's departure. "We have got to take our opportunities to accli-matise. We have a three-day match in Taunton and a few days for practice, so we will have a little bit of time, and it will be important for us to get back into the rhythm of Test cricket."
West Indies' previous Test ended on November 1 last year, when they lost to Pakistan by 199 runs at Karachi. They have been involved in a number of ODIs in the past six months which culminated in the World Cup that was staged in the Caribbean for the first time between March and April.
SWITCHING
"They have switched from ODIs to Tests before, and they should be able to do it again," Moore said. "It is going to be a challenge as it always is at any time, but the good thing is that England are in the same boat. They too, are coming off a long spell of ODIs they would have the advantage of the start to their first-class season at this time."
The West Indies last won a Test against Pakistan two years ago at the old Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, but they have not won an overseas Test since they crushed Zimbabwe by 128 runs at Bulawayo four years ago.
In the period under review, they have lost 16 of the 19 Tests they have contested outside the Caribbean; three draws in rain-marred matches against South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan saving them from complete annihilation.
The West Indies have not beaten England in a Test since they pummelled them by an innings and 93 runs in three days at Edgbaston in Birmingham seven years ago.
The match was highlight by Courtney Walsh capturing his 450th Test wicket, when he had Mark Ramprakash caught at forward short leg.
"Turning things around is not going to happen right away," Moore said. "We are looking to put in place processes that would get the boys acting in a profes-sional way, and giving their best all the time.
"For the team to do well, we have got to do everything well. There are different aspects to the game, and we have got to blend them well, and we have got to be proficient at all of them.
'Along with the batting, bowling and fielding, our tactics, fitness and mental skills will also be very important, and to be a Test cricketer these days, you have to be able to blend them all together consistently."
The West Indies are set to face England in Tests at Lord's (May 17-21), Headingley (May 25-29), Old Trafford (June 7-11) and the Riverside Ground (June 15-19).
A separate squad will be selected for the two Twenty20 Internationals, and the three ODIs that will follow the Tests.
Touring squad
Ramnaresh Sarwan (captain), Daren Ganga (vice-captain), Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Chris Gayle, Sylvester Joseph, Runako Morton, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Darren Sammy, Devon Smith and Jerome Taylor.
