Windies revival is not convincing: Richie

Former WI skipper believes only a Test series win can be seen as a sure sign of improvement.

ST JOHN'S (Antigua): Former West Indian captain Richie Richardson is not ready to describe the 4-1 one-day series win over India as a sign of Caribbean resurgence and would rather reserve his judgement till the end of the Test rubber.

“I wouldn’t straightaway say that we have turned the corner. We have beaten India in one-dayers but only if we do the same in Tests would I feel that we are improving,” said Richardson.

For West Indies to do an encore in the Test series, the hosts would have to come to terms with the likes of Anil Kumble who, Richardson feels, India missed greatly in the one-day series.

“I don’t know the reasons why Kumble wasn’t in the one-day squad but he should always be in India’s team. I remember him as someone who was very difficult to get away. He may be advancing in years but he still is a formidable opponent. India missed him in the one-day series,” said Richardson.

The Antiguan inherited the legacy of the likes of Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards in keeping West Indies on top of world cricket but admits now that the decline was becoming more perceptible in his time.

“It was because the people who ran West Indies cricket believed that we would remain on top. They didn’t work hard enough for it,” he said.”