Gibson expects better from Windies against Ireland and England

Wellington, Jan 17 (IANS/CMC) West Indies coach Ottis Gibson says he believes his team will fare better at home against Ireland and England after disappointing tours to India and New Zealand.

England will play three Twenty20s and three One-day Internationals in Antigua and Barbados from late February into March.

Ireland will take on the West Indies in A limited-overs series - two T20 internationals and an ODI - in March following their involvement in the Super50 competition.

"I don't think all is lost. We are missing a lot of key players and there are players who will come in and strengthen us in the next couple of weeks," Gibson said Thursday.

"I'm looking forward to the mini-series versus Ireland, England next month and of course, the T20 World Cup."

The West Indies crashed to a number of lopsided defeats in tests ODIs and T20s on their tour of India and New Zealand and injuries kept mostly all of their frontline players out of action.

"We have lots of cricket to be played still. We'll see how (Chris) Gayle is doing and there's (Kemar) Roach and Ravi Rampaul to also come back," he said.

"I'll have a look to see how (Kieron) Pollard is doing also and we can look forward from there."

The West Indies coach also listed Marlon Samuels, Darren Sammy and Darren Bravo as crucial absentees who would reinforce his unit once fit.

The Caribbean side ended their tour in dismal fashion Wednesday, crumbling by four wickets to New Zealand in the

final of the two-match T20 series.

--IANS/CMC

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