Adams SYDNEY (AP):
JIMMY Adams said yesterday he would accept his axing as captain of the West Indian team, saying that he only wants the best for cricket in the Caribbean.
"My whole focus is on the betterment and continued improvement of West Indies cricket," Adams said, reacting to news from the Caribbean that he could soon be replaced by Carl Hooper.
"If the powers that be see that (axing me) is the best way then I accept that."
Adams, preparing his team for a limited-overs match Tuesday (last night Jamaican time) against Zimbabwe at the Sydney Cricket Ground, admitted that the team is still playing poorly.
"We're still not happy with some aspects of our cricket," Adams said. "Some of our cricket is well below par. In terms of catching and fielding we're not anywhere near where we want to be."
Adams said there were encouraging signs from the rain-shortened washout loss to Australia last week when Brian Lara was batting with an unbeaten century.
"The odds were still very much in Australia's favour when the rain came," Adams admitted. "But the game was at a very interesting point -- but we should have had another two or three wickets in hand which would have made it a lot more interesting."
Lara remains the key for the West Indies but there was some doubt over his fitness for last night's match after he missed most of yesterday's training session to receive treatment for his troublesome hamstring.
Adams chose to dodge the issue of Lara's love life, saying he hadn't read a newspaper report which alleged Lara had started a relationship with a Melbourne shop assistant he met while his former girlfriend was trying on a dress.
More pressing for the West Indies skipper were the rumours circling the Caribbean that he was due to be replaced as captain by a rejuvenated Hooper for the upcoming South African tour of the Caribbean.
All-rounder Hooper retired from international cricket two years ago when he made a sudden departure during a one-day series against Australia after his wife and daughter fell ill at their home in Adelaide, Australia.
