KING
BRISBANE, CMC:
BENNETT KING has come out swinging against claims from fast bowling great Michael Holding of an attitude problem in the West Indies team ahead of the opening Test against Australia, starting at the Gabba tonight (Jamaica time).
Holding accused the squad of an attitude problem that would lead to the visitors being demolished in all three Tests against the Aussies.
"He's not privy to the group now I don't think," King said. "The group actually works really hard, and I think publicly they're getting more acceptance.
"The more things they do right publicly, I think the better they'll be accepted as well."
DEDICATED SQUAD
King, who came to the West Indies job last year after coaching stints with Queensland and the Australian Cricket Academy, said his squad was happy, competitive and dedicated.
"I think you'll see a change in their fortunes sometime, but certainly it's quite young in their development," he said.
Holding, in Australia as a television commentator for the series, pointed to the disciplining of fast bowler Tino Best last week over a training ground incident as an example of the lax attitude within the squad.
IMPROVED PLAYERS
The West Indies had the better of Queensland in their four-day, warm-up match ahead of the first Test, with the Bulls having to scramble to get a draw after the visitors amassed 612 in their only innings.
King hinted that Marlon Samuels had improved his Test selection chances by scoring a first-innings double century and taking five wickets with his off-spinners.
He expected key batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan to overcome a knee injury, while fast bowler Daren Powell (quad) and batting superstar Brian Lara (finger) would also be fit to play.
The West Indies have not won a Test in Australia since February 1997.
