MUMBAI, November 15: The West Indies A cricket team is here to show India the talent it possesses and to give a good account of itself, said the coach and former off-spinner Roger Harper.The team that arrived late last night, decided to rest today and practice tomorrow, prior to their three-day match against the Board President's XI at the Brabourne Stadium on Wednesday.Despite a minor problem of visas on arrival, which manager Joel Garner said had been sorted out, the players are focussed in their quest for a place in the first XI. The A side has already contributed one player, Floyd Reifer, who replaced Jimmy Adams in the Windies side touring South Africa currently. Batsman Chris Gayle has replaced Reifer in the side but is yet to arrive.The 15-member side, of some Test discards and all Test hopefuls, led by Ian Bishop, arrived late last night from Bangladesh for a month's tour during which they are scheduled to play two `Tests', three `One-dayers' against India A and few practice matches. And theWest Indians are looking to improve upon a disappointing 1-2 loss to Bangladesh in the One-day series.``We played badly,'' echoed Garner and Harper, two players who had another thing in common - uncommon fielding ability in the gully.Both insisted that the apparent decline in West Indian cricket was just a part of a cycle and the Caribbeans will bounce back. The talent is there, which is why the team is here, and the players are looking for international exposure in their bid to fill in the shoes of their illustrious predecessors, said Harper.``The A tours are for playing people who are stand-by for the first XI and for developing young talent,'' Garner added.Admitting the fact that basketball and baseball are gaining in popularity, they pointed to the rise in television coverage devoted to the two disciplines as a cause. ``Cricket is still as popular as it used to be. And it is regaining its place among kids,'' reasoned Harper. ``Though cricket is gaining more air time, it's still not enough. Moreis required,'' he added.The touring party has five players with Test experience. Captain and fast bowler Ian Bishop, opening batsman Sherwin Campbell, wicket-keeper Courtney Brown and leg-spinner Rawl Lewis made his Test debut in Pakistan last winter.Garner, who is a member of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and mediated in the pay crisis between the rebelling players and the Board, however, was willing to say ``not one word'' on the issue. Harper said he was not at all involved in it and hence could not comment.But whatever happened, ``I wish both the players and the Board would sort out their differences and get on with the business of playing cricket,'' felt Harper.Garner disagreed that the lack of players of the calibre that the Windies produced in the 70s and 80s, was due to the slow nature of the tracks. ``The wickets have always been slow,'' he said. It is just a part of ``the cycle'', he remarked.Though he did not want to name any one promising player, ``as it would put unnecessarypressure on the others'', Garner - once regarded the best bowler in limited overs cricket - said modern day youngsters were lazier.``There was no television and we would play anything, football or any other sport,'' said Garner.
