Lloyd pleased with new Windies players

Bridgetown (Barbados), Sep 19 (IANS/CMC) West Indies cricket legend Clive Lloyd says he is impressed with the new crop of young players on the regional cricket team following the series against Bangladesh.

Lloyd, the most successful captain who led the team during the 1970s and 1980s, has singled out opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite who was adjudged man of the series which the West Indies won 2-0, reports CMC.

The Barbadian batsman scored a double century in the first test which the regional side won by 10 wickets.

"It was just the first Test of the young players that are coming through and we have quite a few of them and I am very impressed with the likes of Kraigg Brathwaite," said Lloyd who recently took over as chairman of the West Indies selection panel.

"He batted extremely well in this series, got a double hundred and to see a young guy coming through and people at one stage were saying that hee was not strong enough to get the ball off the pitch. Well I think he is improving with every game."

Lloyd also praised the growth of opener Leon Johnson who had scores of 66 and 41 after replacing Chris Gayle in the second Test while Jermaine Blackwood was unbeaten on 66.

"Those two young men came in. Blackwood played very well. He is one for the future," said Lloyd.

"Johnson came in took his chance and he looks like he will be there for quite a while."

The West Indies cricketers are now preparing to travel for back to back series against India and South Africa.

"So it's entirely up to them now because they are young people there is a lot of cricket coming up," said the 70-year-old Lloyd who made 110 Test appearances.

"If they can perform in the same manner I think they can do well. I think the test is first when we play India."

--IANS/CMC

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