Roots Sports Report: Time for a win

West Indies cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards thinks the time is ripe for the Caribbean side to turn the corner and put some more wins under their belts as they face England in a four test series.

The first test match began on Wednesday at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

"I believe it's about time, if you are a professional person and you have been playing for some time and been at the receiving end of some hidings, the work would have been in such a place for you to get things in place to turn things around," Sir Viv said.

The West Indies have lost their last four series against England and 13 of their last 17 test matches against the tourists.

The last time the teams met at Sabina Park, the West Indies were bowled out for 47 runs and lost the match within three days.

Sir Viv, who holds the distinction of being the only West Indies captain to have never lost a test series, is in Jamaica this week.

The Antiguan said so many resources had been invested in West Indies coaches and the team, that there comes a point when all that investment must start to reap benefits.

"I believe there is a time where you must have a settled unit in order for you to be successful. We cannot afford to be making these changes over and over again, " he said.

Be consistent

Richards pinpointed the current Windies Captain Chris Gayle, whom he has termed "lackadaisical", and batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan as two players who have promise.

But he said they need to be consistent and live up to the hype which surrounds them.

"It is the people you have that you are going to go along with, the ones you are confident that would be the ones to take it to the next level...this is why I say this series has that turning point where all these things should fit into place."

Meanwhile the former skipper warned that England's chances of winning the series should not be discounted despite the recent upheaval in the country's cricket.

He said what makes the team most dangerous is the fact that they are not at home.

"Touring away from home is always the greatest in terms of the camaraderie, the spirit that you bring...away from home there always seems to be a much closer unit.

"Teams in my opinion do better when they are away from home and this may be an occasion for England to feel that this is the opportunity away from home to go back saying we have achieved whatever against odds," Sir Viv said.

--BBC Caribbean.com