Cricket: Don't write us off, says seamer Bradshaw

West Indian paceman Ian Bradshaw has warned Kiwi cricket fans against getting too far ahead of themselves during the upcoming one-day series.

The struggling West Indians flew into Auckland on Friday and spent yesterday in an exhausting six-hour practice 'camp' at Eden Park, an exercise that concluded with 400m shuttles and one-on-one sparring.

Largely written off by punters after compiling a soul destroying record over the past couple of years, the West Indies have responded by picking a young and unheralded squad for the five one-day matches, supported by mostly Australian management personnel.

Bradshaw, recalled for the New Zealand campaign after missing the West Indies' tour of Sri Lanka last August, said he was excited about the potential of the remodelled combination, and believed it was capable of beating any opponent in the world.

"It's a dangerous idea to write us off, definitely," he said after training yesterday.

"No one knows what we're capable of. Most other teams around the world are old and familiar, but we're an unknown quantity and I'm sure we can use that to our advantage.

"I've got a lot of respect for New Zealand cricket, but I also know that when we play to our potential, we can compete with any team in the world."

The West Indies have lost 15 of their past 17 completed ODIs and 12 of their past 15 tests, and were humbled 5-nil and 2-nil during their previous visit to New Zealand in 1999-2000.

Bradshaw, one of the heroes of the West Indies' shock Champions Trophy win against England at Lord's in 2004, said the past half dozen years had been a demoralising time for Caribbean cricket fans, particularly after the heights of the late 1980s.

While the criticism had sometimes been hurtful, he said it was understandable that West Indian fans would find recent events difficult to digest, and said the players accepted it was up to them to turn things around.

"There's a tradition that many of our great players have built over the years, and it's now our responsibility to continue that tradition of success," he said.

"Every time we step on a cricket field, we're representing the history of West Indian cricket. We're the guardians of the legend, and we acknowledge that."

The West Indies will begin the official section of the tour when they square off against New Zealand in a Twenty20 contest at Eden Park on Thursday night, after which both teams will head for Wellington and the opening ODI at the Cake Tin. As if the West Indies' task was not difficult enough, the showdown in Wellington will be their first ODI since last August's series against Sri Lanka, and their first under the experimental supersub and powerplay rules.

Bradshaw, who seems likely to build on his ODI recall and win a test spot next month, predicted young players such as wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin (22), all-rounders Dwayne Bravo (22) and Dwayne Smith (22), and fast-bowler Jerome Taylor (21), would boost the team's fortunes.

"There's a lot of talented players in the side and they know that they need to work hard to realise their potential and become the international success that they can," he said.

"This present predicament isn't a result of the West Indies being short of talent.

"But it's now a matter of taking that talent and harnessing and developing it, and channelling it again in the right direction."

A West Indies spokesman last night reported no injuries and the likelihood of a full squad to pick from for Thursday's tour opener; the first Twenty20 match in which the tourists have been involved.

New Zealand will assemble in Auckland today and have scheduled an optional practice at Eden Park.