Thoroughly outplayed for the first three matches, West Indies are looking to salvage pride when they meet Australia in the fourth Digicel One-Day International against Australia at Warner Park today.
With Australia confirmed winners of the five-match series, West Indies captain Chris Gayle wants his team to step up to the plate and give regional fans with a lift.
"We've discussed the situation we are in. Everybody from the outside saw what is going on," Gayle told reporters after a practice session on Thursday.
"We are still playing for pride. We want to win these two games and give the fans something to cheer about. We are looking forward to it."
After showing great fighting spirit in the three-match Test series which they lost 2-0, West Indies flattered to deceive in the One-Day Internationals.
The lost the first match by 84 runs at the Arnos Vale Sports Complex in St Vincent and went under by 63 runs and seven wickets in the matches at the Grenada National Stadium.
"We are making some simple mistakes. It cost us. We can take a leaf from Australia’s book, the way they go about cricket. You have to give credit to them," Gayle said.
"Players put their hands up to take their team home. It is something we have to take a serious look at. Our batting has been letting us down. We’ve been stressing on it. We’re trying to find the solution to conquer it."
After defeats in the first three matches, the selectors have made a few changes by omitting injured fast bowler Jerome Taylor, batsman Kieron Pollard, wicket-keeper Patrick Browne and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn.
They have also included pacer Kemar Roach, who played in the one-off Twenty20 International and the uncapped pair of left-handed batsman Shawn Findlay and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller.
"The discussion was that the selectors needed to look at a few players based on the Champions Trophy coming up in Pakistan," Gayle said.
"It is also about trying to put pressure on other guys to perform. It is an opportunity. They need to come and stamp their authority."
With the series already lost, West Indies are looking to end on a winning note. Some observers, however, feel it will be too little, too late.
"The victories might be hollow, but it will be something to cheer about," Gayle said. "People have asked for a victory on the streets. We will be working hard to give the fans something to cheer about."
The news from the Australia camp is that captain Ricky Ponting will sit out because of an injured wrist.
It will also allow Michael Clarke to captain Australia for the first time in a One-Day International and it will also give David Hussey his debut at this level.
Meantime, Marlon Samuels’ two-year ban for providing information to a bookmaker has been upheld after an ICC committee determined the West Indies Cricket Board had handled the case appropriately.
In May, Samuels was suspended for two years by the WICB’s disciplinary committee for breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct for “receiving money, for benefit or other reward that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute”.
Samuels was allegedly caught on tape in February 2007 passing on match-related information to an Indian bookie during West Indies’ ODI series in India. An ICC committee headed by Michael Beloff QC reviewed the WICB’s finding to ascertain whether the process and punishment were in keeping with the ICC regulations. The enquiry found the punishment and the process to be appropriate and the findings were accepted by the ICC board.
