Chris Gayle

	It was also great to break the spell of not beating a team ranked higher than us for more than seven years © AFP

I woke up this morning still grinning from ear to ear. I’m overjoyed, overwhelmed – just really happy – with our victory (in four days, might I add) over South Africa last Saturday in Port Elizabeth. It has been a long time coming and it was sweet – especially being the underdogs.

I must give a tremendous amount of credit to my team-mates. It was a terrific effort from the guys to defeat the No. 2 team in Test cricket – and for the first time on South African soil. I will not single out any player in particular because I believe everyone deserves the same credit in what was a magnificent team performance. Everybody played a part and I’m very proud of how we handled ourselves throughout this Test match. It shows the work that we have been putting in during our nets.

Naturally, our dressing room was abuzz with excitement and celebrations in the aftermath of our 128-run triumph. We definitely enjoyed the moment. For some guys, such as Dwayne Bravo, Runako Morton and Denesh Ramdin, it was the first-ever taste of success in a Test – and they’ve been playing for a while now. It was also great to break the spell of not beating a team ranked higher than us for more than seven years.

Before this series, I said we needed to take it one session at a time and that, if we won the majority of sessions, we would be in a strong position to win the match. The guys put their hands up to be counted and they stuck to the task; so much so that we dominated all but one of the 12 sessions.

We did discuss our downfall on the third evening of the game, when we lost six wickets for 34 runs in the second innings, but we didn’t dwell on it. Instead we focused on how we would get ten South African wickets for victory. We knew we had runs on the board and were confident that it would be hard for the opposition to get more than 350 on the fourth and fifth days. As it was, we didn’t need the fifth day.

A lot of compliments have been heaped on me regarding my captaincy but I want to caution that it’s still early days. Also, I can’t take the credit for myself because I have relied on the guys and they have rallied around me superbly. They inspire me. Being out there – still with an injury – was tough but I fought hard to play in this first Test because I wanted to be with my team. So I decided that I was going to play even if I had to do it on one leg.

As captain, I just try to get on with the job and be myself. I don’t know how else to explain it. That’s how I am. If I have something to say, I tell a player as it is and I expect him to be able to take it as a man and not view it personally. I expect the same when I slip up – that people will tell me like it is. I don’t hold it against anyone. I just want to get on with the cricket.

On the field, I try to analyse things; to be ahead of the game and try to anticipate things and respond before those things even happen. I also get suggestions from other players. We’ve played against South Africans on several occasions and we’ve watched them a lot, so we know their strengths and weaknesses. There are some newcomers in their camp so we will be learning more about those players as we go along.

I’ve also realised that a captain should not to have too many unnecessary matters on his mind whenever he goes onto the field. You need to relax and keep a cool head, if not, you’ll definitely be confused. You have to remember you’re in charge and you need to be focused at all times. I like to stand at first slip as it’s a good location from which to assess what’s going on.

Now that we are 1-0 up, we must work even harder to stay ahead in this series. We have to get back into the right mindset immediately for the second of the three Tests, starting in Cape Town on Wednesday (January 2). That’s only two days away so it’s back to business; training and sharpening up to take on the South Africans, who will no doubt be determined to rebound from this loss. I will be seeking to be even fitter for the battle at Newlands. Though I didn’t have any problems with my hamstring injury in the first Test, we’re still monitoring it and I have to be careful not to injure myself again.

By the time I write my next diary, 2008 will have been ushered in. I hope we in the Windies team have given our fans around the world a reason to start the year in good spirits. We’ve been criticised a lot – sometimes unfairly, I think – but we have shrugged that off and are getting on with the job. I would like our supporters to be patient and keep faith in our young unit. I hope what we have achieved in the last few days can be the beginning of something really special for West Indies cricket and that we will see even more improvements. Continue to enjoy the victory and have a Happy New Year.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

	Ramnaresh Sarwan: "Marlon [Samuels] was outstanding. It was the best I have ever seen Marlon bat" © AFP

The watchwords for West Indies over the next day or two will be “consistency” and “complacency” – they need a lot of the first and little or none of the latter.

Without a doubt, West Indies are firmly in the driver’s seat after two days of the first Test against South Africa which began on Boxing Day in Port Elizabeth. It’s hardly a position which most fans – c’mon be honest – expected us to be in but the guys have got there by dint of disciplined batting and bowling and by being patient ... over after over. In other words, they have succeeded by their consistency in applying themselves and doing the right things repeatedly coupled with reining in the urge to play rash shots or to try something unnecessarily extravagant – things that have been our downfall in the past.

Now, sitting pretty – with 408 on the board and with Graeme Smith and company reeling at 122 for 5 at the start the third day –West Indies must guard against one of our most sinister enemies if we are to push home the advantage and press for victory.

We cannot afford an iota of complacency if we are to win this game and snatch a vital 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

There was a hint of that old foe in the dying stages of yesterday, as the bowlers offered up some deliveries that were decidedly looser than those earlier in the South African innings. I expect that the guys would have regrouped at last evening’s team meeting and that Daren (Powell), Jerome (Taylor) and Fidel (Edwards) will come this morning ready to make life as difficult as possible for Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers and the rest of the South African line-up. We need to get them out – and as cheaply as we can.

It’s always great to have options in a Test match and, if we can dismiss the opposition for under 209, then asking them to follow-on would be a major consideration. It would give us the upper hand completely and increase the pressure on South Africa even more as we seek what many would see as an unlikely triumph.

I’m really optimistic about our chances in this match and proud about the manner in which our players have acquitted themselves so far. It shows that if we do the right things consistently – bat properly; take our time; bowl in the right channels; stick to our game plan – then the appropriate rewards are likely.

One of the problems in the past was the uneven batting contribution within our line-up. What we have seen in our first innings here is that most batsmen, even in the lower order, pitched in. Even when we lost the first two wickets on the first day, Runako Morton and Marlon Samuels stayed together for a while, then Samuels and Shiv (Chanderpaul) had a century partnership. When Marlon was out, Shiv got support from Dwayne (Bravo) and later on Darren Sammy. This allowed us to continue building the overall score and that’s what we have generally lacked – batsmen sticking around at the crease.

Shiv was brilliant and Marlon was outstanding. It was the best I have ever seen Marlon bat. He was very patient and this is a great sign for us. I just hope he can produce that type of innings on a – yes, you guessed it – consistent basis. Chris Gayle was also very good and the start which he and Daren (Ganga) gave us was crucial. I also want to commend Darren Sammy who has been scoring his runs quietly but effectively, and is an asset to the lower order.

Chris’ return after his hamstring injury is also huge psychologically. As captain – and one of the most experienced players in the team – he is a big influence. When he is around, everyone is happy and pumped up. It was very important to get him back on the field for this opening Test and, so far, he’s doing a great job.

Meanwhile, I’m continuing rehabilitation from the injury to my right ankle which is feeling progressively better. I trained with the Guyana squad yesterday, doing stationary catching and some batting on concrete. Persistent rains have hampered our preparations on grass. However, today we hope to use the facilities at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence which has excellent drainage.

I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed – both for a let-up in the showers here in Georgetown and for West Indies’ fortunes in South Africa.

Let’s hope they can make it a truly Happy New Year for us all!

Chris Gayle

	Windies batsmen need to occupy the crease longer © AFP

The long, hard journey in South Africa has now truly begun and, as I stressed in my last Tour Diary, we in the West Indies team need to be able to walk the walk – not just talk about it.

Being humbled inside three days by South Africa A was definitely not what we would have wanted ahead of our first of three Test matches, starting on Boxing Day. However, there is no point dwelling on the disappointments and mistakes in what we envisioned would be a four-day practice game for us rather than a ten-wicket loss. The most positive response is to use the data from this wake-up call to ensure there’s no repeat of our performance at Buffalo Park in East London.

There were problems in both batting and bowling; the former particularly. Once again a number of batsmen were dismissed cheaply and even those who got a start never went on to score big runs. We need the runs. We have to give the bowlers something to work with when they get the ball in their hands. Posting a total of 193 in our first innings didn’t do us any favours and then to allow the A team to reply with 371 – due in part to some wayward bowling – compounded our troubles.

Finding ourselves at 5 for 2 (with both openers back in the pavilion), and subsequently 53 for 5, in the second innings, left us with little hope of survival and we eventually succumbed, giving the home side a mere 37 runs for victory.

It could have been a much different scenario had some of the West Indies batsmen dug in and occupied the crease longer. Our best contributions came from Runako Morton (54), Darren Sammy (40) and Rawl Lewis (40) in the first innings and then Dwayne Bravo (67) and again Sammy (57) – who celebrated his 24th birthday during the match – in the second innings. Denesh Ramdin also got a start with 35.

Yet, none went on to get that major score to hold either of our innings' together. We must examine and correct that issue in very short order. We cannot afford to get starts and then give our wickets away. When a player scores a fifty, he really should be setting himself up for a century – and that’s what we failed to do. By contrast, the top four scorers for South Africa A had returns of 114, 89, 62 and 54 – making for a solid foundation, thereby giving their bowlers something to work with.

We have had some lengthy discussions and we have acknowledged where we went wrong in the match. Despite being defeated, we are still upbeat and we are working hard to make sure we are ready for the first Test. I hope to play in that game and captain the team. I resumed net practice last week following an injury lay-off after pulling my right hamstring in the second one-dayer versus Zimbabwe on December 2.

So far, I’m feeling pretty good and there’s been no pain, even with running between the wickets. The real test, though, will be to see if I can sprint but I have to be careful as I don’t want to hurt myself and undo all the rehabilitation I’ve undergone. While I am eager to get back on the field, there’s no decision yet on whether I will play or not. We just have to keep monitoring my progress and see how it goes.

I want to close by wishing everyone – especially family, friends and all West Indies fans – a Merry Christmas. Enjoy the ham and other goodies; have a drink for the team and please continue to have faith in us.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

	Ramnaresh Sarwan: "I’ve been able to bat and run comfortably which is a great sign" © AFP

It’s four days before Christmas and I think I’ve already got one of the best and most timely gifts possible.

My right ankle has clearly responded well to treatment and, after my recent frustrations at being injured and missing the tour to Zimbabwe and the ongoing one to South Africa, I’m slowly but surely getting back in the mix.

For the second straight week, I’ve been able to bat and run comfortably which is a great sign, with just weeks to go before the 2008 regional first-class series begins. I’ve had four training sessions with the Guyana squad and will continue to do so until December 23 when we take a short break for Christmas before resuming on December 28.

Given the heavy rains in recent days, our batting practice has been limited to the indoor concrete strip at the national gymnasium. I’m thrilled with the progress in my batting. During my knocks, my feet have been moving increasingly better and my mind is more at ease with each workout. I’ve also done some sprinting to further test my ankle and there was no problem. Now, I think it’s simply a matter of regaining match fitness and getting as much net practice as possible.

Though I’m obviously focused on my situation, I’ve been keeping a close watch on my team-mates over in South Africa. At the moment, they are up against it in their encounter with South Africa A. We only mustered 193 in our first innings of the four-day match and, as I write at tea-time on the third day, we are struggling at 134 for 6 in the second innings, facing a stiff task as the opposition posted 371. There’s still the rest of today and tomorrow to try and get through. The guys just have to keep fighting. This is what Test cricket is all about – character and challenges.

We definitely should have batted better, especially as we won the toss and decided to have first use of the pitch. I would assume therefore that it looked good for batting. I have to give a nod to Runako Morton who continues to impress on tour. While all the wickets were tumbling around him, he stroked a good fifty in the first innings. The other batsmen need to try and support him if we are to do well. Dwayne Bravo stood out in the bowling, capturing 6 for 51.

Like all West Indies fans, I was pleased with the Twenty20 international win against South Africa last Sunday. Fast bowler Jerome Taylor was outstanding for us as was Dale Steyn for South Africa. I know it was just 13-overs-a-side because of rain but as Chris Gayle noted “a victory is a victory”, particularly at the highest level of the game. He was right on the spot with that comment.

I hope that even though they are in some trouble in their current match, West Indies will take heart from what they achieved on the weekend and play confidently. South Africa is a dominant team and to have beaten them means a lot. It shows that on our day we are capable of being among the best in world cricket. We just have to be more consistent in our performances and I will be expecting to see that over the coming month.

At this point, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to thank the public for their support in 2007. I trust that fans will continue to back West Indies in 2008 as we strive for more success.

Denesh Ramdin

	I would like to get some runs and sharpen up behind the stumps ahead of the first Test beginning on Boxing Day © West Indies Cricket Board

So far, so good on the South African tour. Strong teamwork and confidence in our ability earned us a vital victory over the hosts in Sunday’s shortened Twenty20 International.

I know the game lasted just under 23 overs, but it was a crucial statement by us in the Windies unit. We are here to compete!

We intend not to be taken lightly and I think South Africa have now had a taste of what we are capable of once we fire on all cylinders. We have acquitted ourselves decently in both matches on tour thus far [though narrowly losing the opening encounter against Makhaya Ntini’s Invitation XI] and we will be looking to continue this trend – and to win of course – in the four-day game starting on Wednesday versus South Africa A.

On a personal level, I would like to get some runs and sharpen up behind the stumps ahead of the first Test beginning on Boxing Day. The pitches over here have more bounce than the ones in the Caribbean and the ball comes on a little quicker. They are lovely for batting.

St George’s Park, where Sunday’s game was held, was no exception. It was a good track but luckily, having won the toss, we were able to send in South Africa and put them under pressure immediately after a stunning over by Jerome Taylor. It’s always important to pick up quick wickets in any form of cricket but even more so in the Twenty20 version of the sport. So, to have one of our premier fast bowlers collect three in a single over – while conceding no runs – was extra special.

Excellent bowling was supported by good fielding and two run-outs. Overall, we were happy with our efforts in that regard.

We got underway with our batting and were moving along well before Dale Steyn got into the act. To see another three wickets fall in one over was amazing. He bowled a great spell and it did set us back at 41 for 5 when I walked to the crease. Thankfully, Shiv [Shivnarine Chanderpaul] and I got stuck in and were able to bring it home for the team. I hit two fours in succession to end the match and carry our score to 60. It was a wonderful feeling to finish in style.

I can’t say enough about the role that Shiv played in that victory. He is among the most experienced cricketers on the international stage and he knew exactly what was needed in the situation in which we found ourselves. The one thing we could not allow ourselves to do was to panic. He kept talking to me and tried to maintain most of the strike in the early stage of our partnership.

When I came in to bat, Steyn had one of his three overs remaining. We knew if we could see him off then we would be in a commanding position to win the match, and that’s what we did. I faced four balls of that final Steyn over and I was determined to keep him out. It was a challenge but I stood up to it. He is quick through the air and generates a lot of arm speed. The yorker is clearly his main weapon and he uses it well.

We heard a lot about him before we arrived and now, with the advantage of having played him, we know his capability and what we must do to counter his attacking bowling in the coming weeks. It’s going to be a gripping battle.

As I sign off this week, I would like to wish everyone back in the Caribbean and all Windies fans around the world a Merry Christmas. It may be late in coming, but I trust that, by the end of this series, we in the West Indies team will deliver the best possible gift to you.

Chris Gayle

	It’s not every day that South Africa are reduced to 22 for 7 © Getty Images

What a sensational way to announce our arrival in South Africa!

Sunday’s Twenty20 international triumph over the hosts – in a match shortened even further by rain to 13 overs apiece – was exactly what we in the West Indies touring party needed to kickstart our campaign against the No. 2 ODI team.

It was a thriller at St George’s Park punctuated by some scintillating bowling on both sides of the divide – with triple-wicket overs by our ace, Jerome Taylor, and Dale Steyn, South Africa’s new find, as well as big hitting and sharp fielding and catching. It was fast-food cricket in overdrive and we kept our wits about us to canter home with 19 balls to spare.

I know the cynics will say we can’t put too much stock on a game that didn’t even last half an ODI innings but we still had to go out there and do what was necessary. It’s not every day that South Africa are reduced to 22 for 7. In essence, a victory is a victory, especially at the international level and versus such a high-calibre team.

Our players worked hard, enjoyed the match and we thoroughly deserved our success. It was a great feeling and we were all ecstatic.

There were some important positives from the game in Port Elizabeth. Naturally, Taylor was the star of the show with a rare triple-wicket maiden that set us up nicely. His Man-of-the-Match figures of 3 for 6 from three overs were complemented by Daren Powell’s 1 for 6 off three overs and Darren Sammy’s 1 for 9 off three overs. Fidel Edwards also picked up a wicket and had batsmen jumping in their crease.

In our reply, we started confidently and sensibly and reached 32 for 1 before we too suffered a batting slump as the much-heralded Steyn showed his venom with the ball. In no time we were 41 for 5 but we didn’t panic which we have perhaps been guilty of in past outings. We stood up to the challenge and displayed a lot of character, with the experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul and a very capable Denesh Ramdin finishing off the job.

I can’t say enough about the team effort and spirit that were the hallmarks of our performance. Everyone chipped in, playing their part at some stage – whether it was Shiv’s [Chanderpaul’s} one-handed, diving catch at mid-on to send back the dangerous Herschelle Gibbs or Bravo’s fantastic run-out of Albie Morkel or Runako Morton’s efficiency in getting the ball back to Ramdin to dismiss Shaun Pollock. Morton also set our batting on track with a vital knock of 20.

Of course, I can’t help but mention the aggression shown by Windies opener, Brenton Parchment, in launching Pollock out of the ground for a huge six in the first over of our innings. That shot got the crowd really excited and let South Africa know that we weren’t afraid of them. He’s becoming accustomed to the big stage and beginning to show what he can do.

The Twenty20 international was also a great opportunity for us to scrutinise Steyn and be exposed to his pace. He is very accurate and we will have to be patient against him and believe in our ability. Clearly we have some work to do as batting will be a key factor in the three Tests.

Last Friday’s 25-overs-a-side match versus the Makhaya Ntini Invitational XI – affected by rain too – gave us some good practice and a feel for the conditions though we lost by five runs. The guys are in the right frame of mind and morale in the camp is high. We are really up for this [Test] series.

It’s all about the red ball now.

Meanwhile, I’m continuing to recover from my hamstring injury and it remains a day-to-day assessment with no set time for my return to action. I’m just doing what is required and focusing on getting better.

I’ve met our new coach, John Dyson, and we have discussed a few things. Despite the euphoria of yesterday, the real work starts now and we know there's a long road ahead.

We just have to continue walking the walk.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

	Let’s hope this squad of West Indian players will return home with their own good memories of South Africa © AFP

How wonderful it is to start getting back in the groove!

That’s how I felt on Monday and Tuesday of this week when I had 15-20 minutes of batting practice on both days at National Stadium in Providence in Guyana. I was so excited to get out there and hold a bat in my hands again. It was a significant step in the recovery process from my ankle injury and I enjoyed every second of it.

I focussed primarily on running on my right ankle, to see how it felt under some pressure, and on trying to time the ball properly. Overall, the signs were pretty good. I’m definitely making progress and doing much better. The fact that I can actually run is great and I’m looking forward to intensifying my training over the coming days.

Next week I’m planning to do some all-out sprinting to test my ankle even further and see how it responds to the kind of pressure that would be placed on it during matches. I feel a lot more confident about putting weight on it. I believe I can trust it now.

This latest development with my ankle could not have happened at a better time as the Guyana national team start training for the upcoming Carib Beer Cricket Series from next week and I should be able to participate and get match-fit in time for the regional tournament next month.

Of course, I will continue to have an eye on the West Indies fortunes overseas as they prepare to face the might of South Africa. They’ve just come off a convincing 3-1 win in the one-day series against Zimbabwe and I think that will boost their self-confidence versus the No. 2 team in international cricket.

We must be positive and optimistic going into every game, even Friday’s Makhaya Ntini Invitational benefit which is only 25-overs-a-side. Though it’s akin to what we in the Caribbean would call a “fete match”, I hope we seize the opportunity to make the most of it. We must play to win at all times.

It will be interesting to see how we fare against South Africa whose strength, I think, is in their batting. They are also a well-balanced outfit with all-round talents like Jacques Kallis in their ranks. We cannot be overawed though and it will be a matter of us sticking to our game plan and not wilting under pressure or getting dejected when things are not going our way. I think the pitches will be suited to good cricket – both batting and bowling – and there will be something in them for everyone.

As the West Indies prepare for this tough examination I want to wish them and our new coach, John Dyson, all the best. Though we in the Windies team have not done well in South Africa in the past, I do have fond memories of my experiences there. It might surprise fans to learn that my best memory is the World Cup match in 2003 which we lost to Sri Lanka, in which I got struck on my head.

The reason I remember that occasion is because of the ovation which I received from spectators when I returned to bat after being injured. It was superb and I’ve never forgotten it. The people there were really nice and the facilities were excellent for cricket.

Let’s hope this squad of West Indian players will return home with their own good memories of South Africa – on and off the field – when they come back to the Caribbean in February.

Denesh Ramdin

	'As Chris Gayle stated frankly in his comments at the airport, we don’t fear South Africa and we will fight all the way in every match' © Getty Images

Lights, cameras and lots of action!

That’s the best way to describe our arrival in South Africa on Monday afternoon as a host of media persons turned out to meet, greet – and of course, interview – us upon our arrival for the second and arguably tougher segment of the ongoing cricket tour.

It was an early taste of what we can expect over the next month-and-a-half as we negotiate our way through three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals versus the powerful South African outfit. A lot of journalists, broadcasters and photographers jostled for positions to talk to players and to get pictures of us. I have to admit it could be pretty intimidating if you’ve never been in such a situation but I am used to it by now and not at all nervous about such frenzies.

You do need to be prepared though for these experiences which are a part of the international cricket landscape. When the West Indies former media liaison, Imran Khan, was with the team, I took the opportunity on various off days to do interview simulations and other media-related exercises with him so that I would be comfortable whenever I speak to media and never be caught off-guard or flustered. It’s really helped and I’m sure the practice I’ve had will again be useful here in South Africa.

We are well aware that the media will be monitoring us closely and waiting eagerly to see how we handle the highly-ranked South Africans. Our intention is to give them lots to talk about. Nobody in the West Iindies team is under any illusions that the next few weeks will be a very stern test for us but, as skipper Chris Gayle stated frankly in his comments at the airport, we don’t fear South Africa and we will fight all the way in every match. We have come here to win. There’s been much speculation about us being badly beaten and being out of our depth but, at the end of the day, cricket is played out on the field.

Friday’s day-night game against the Makhaya Ntini Invitation XI will be a priceless opportunity to make a definitive and serious opening statement to the South Africans. It’s an important match and we would like to send a message that we’re here for business and to give them a run for their money. It will also give some of our players a chance to press their claim for selection when the series proper starts. I will be among those seeking to do so – both behind the stumps and if and when I get to bat.

Right now, I’m trying to get acclimatised to the weather – it rained overnight – and to the pitches here which are supposed to have more bounce than those in Zimbabwe. We had a light workout yesterday (stretching and some football etc.) with new coach John Dyson. The players have not had any one-on-one interaction with him yet but I expect we will get to know him over the coming days and weeks. I’m looking forward to learning whatever I can from him and executing that knowledge in match situations.

I left Zimbabwe feeling pretty confident and pleased with how things went there and will be aiming to build on that in South Africa. Winning the one-day series 3-1 was good for us and team morale, though we were a little disappointed that the final game was washed out. Overall, the guys are happy, getting along really well and up for the challenge ahead. We know sticking together and helping each other will be critical for us to beat South Africa and we have a vibrant team spirit going.

We can’t wait to get out on the field and show what we’re made of – and we expect the media to be watching.

	Runako Morton enjoyed a profitable tour of Zimbabwe © Getty Images

Chris Gayle

I’m really pleased at the moment. We’ve just won the one-day series in Zimbabwe; team spirit and camaraderie is very high and my hamstring is on the mend.

It’s all looking quite good for us as we move on to South Africa today for the tougher half of our two-month tour. I look forward to us benefiting from the momentum and confidence which the guys have gained with our 3-1 series victory against Zimbabwe as we prepare to take on the highly-touted South Africans. It’s a major battle and we are up for the challenge but we know it will not be easy and the players are working hard to ensure we go out there in the best shape, form and frame of mind.

Our first match will be a day/night Twenty20 on Sunday at Port Elizabeth and I expect it to be a cracker with power hitters on both sides. I’m only sorry that – as I’m still recuperating from pulling my right hamstring in the second one-dayer in Zimbabwe – I will be on the sidelines but I’m sure the guys are going to give a great account of themselves and push South Africa all the way. We would love to have a reverse of the result of the opening match of the ICC Twenty20 World Championship last September in South Africa when we lost to the hosts in a high-scoring affair.

The Twenty20 game will be followed by three Tests, a second Twenty20 encounter and finally five one-dayers before we return home in early February. There’s a long road ahead but we mean business and we are going to give our best for the West Indies and our devoted fans. I hope that the latter are as upbeat as we are with our success over Zimbabwe, though we lost the first game and the rain washed out the fifth and final match yesterday.

We beat the home side three times straight and, on each occasion, fairly easily. It’s a tremendous feeling to win away from the Caribbean, and watching how the guys went about their task truly impressed me. It was a real team effort throughout, with everyone chipping in. I have to give stand-in captain, Dwayne Bravo, a lot of credit and commend his handling of the unit in his first outing in charge. He never panicked or became frustrated. I hope he learns from this and gets more experience. He is definitely a future prospect for the captaincy of the West Indies.

I also want to highlight the contributions of a number of players. Runako Morton was outstanding with the bat with scores of 54, 79, 38 and another 79 in the four ODIs which were played. This is the kind of consistency we need from batsmen and I hope he can maintain it. Shivnarine Chanderpaul also got a century in the first game and is looking good and we will need his knowledge and experience in South Africa. Marlon Samuels got some runs as well and hopefully that’s a sign of things to come. In the bowling, Jerome Taylor stood out with two Man-of-the-Match performances in the third and fourth One-Dayers and the overall Man-of-the-Series accolade with 11 wickets. I know he will be looking to improve from hereon and the Windies will be depending on him. Ravi Rampaul, Darren Powell and Bravo also served us well as did Rawl Lewis whose leg-spin played a big part.

Some of the guys didn’t get to play in Zimbabwe but I hope they keep their spirits up and are ready whenever the time comes. There’s a lot of cricket left on this tour and we must continue working hard and always remember that nothing worthwhile comes easy. Team unity is really strong at the moment; everyone is helping each other out and enjoying each other’s company. That’s a key factor in team sports and we want to keep those vibes going in our camp.

Quickly, there are two more things which I’d like to mention. The first is that my right hamstring is getting better and better every day but there’s still no set date for me to resume training or playing. I’m walking much more freely now and I’ve started doing some stretches to test my hamstring. Team physio, Jacqui King-Mowatt, is treating me and monitoring the situation.

Finally, I wish to thank the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) and all those who were involved in hosting the West Indies while we were in Zimbabwe. We were well accommodated and looked after and the hospitality was fabulous. The team sincerely appreciated all the effort which went into ensuring that we were comfortable and made to feel at home in Zimbabwe.

Thanks one and all.

Ramnaresh Sarwan

	Words can't describe how well Shiv Chanderpaul has been playing © Getty Images

Hopefully by the end of Friday, the West Indies will have clinched the one-day international series against Zimbabwe with a victory at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo.

If they are able to do this it will give us a decisive 3-1 lead in the five matches with just one remaining on Sunday. It would be fantastic if the guys can go into that last game knowing that the main goal has already been achieved, though we would still obviously want to win that as well and leave Zimbabwe with an overall 4-1 triumph.

I’ve been following the Windies’ progress online as the matches are not being televised and, like all West Indians, I was disappointed with the result in the opening one-dayer in Harare.

However, I have to give Chris, Dwayne and the entire team full credit for the manner in which they rose to the challenge, winning the next two fixtures quite comfortably. It was great to see the team effort that went into both the second and third one-dayers, both in batting and bowling. Runako is playing well and Shiv – well, I can’t find the words to describe him – he has just been in outstanding form for the past year. It’s important that, as a senior member of the squad, he continues in this rich vein of scoring and that he gets support from other batsmen.

I want to congratulate Bravo on how he has handled the team thus far and I hope he can really flourish in the role of stand-in captain and that the players will continue to respond to his leadership. On Wednesday, I got a chance to speak to Chris and to find out about his injury. I want to wish him well in his recovery. He’s a major player in the Windies set-up – both as a batsman and captain – and I hope we will see him back on the field sooner rather than later.

As for me, my ankle is getting better and stronger each day. I’m having regular therapy and continue my jogging exercises. Next week should be a critical turning point for me as I’m looking forward to picking up a bat and having a knock for the first time since I was injured in mid-October. It has been raining a lot in Guyana so I plan to use the facilities at the National Gymnasium, which has a concrete surface, to get a hit. That should give me a good indicator of where I am on the road to resuming first-class cricket.

Right now, I’m still targeting the upcoming regional Carib Beer Cricket Series, starting next month, for my return to competitive cricket. It’s been a while and I’m itching to represent Guyana and, of course, the West Indies, again as soon as possible.

	'I will not be playing tomorrow and I will be undergoing an extensive assessment' © Getty Images

Yesterday was more like it from us in the Windies team.

We played to our true ability and it showed not only in the margin of victory over Zimbabwe in the second one-day match, by 110 runs, but also in the clinical way in which we dismissed them, after posting 286 for 9.

To get them out for just 176 in 44.3 overs was great and has certainly helped to put our 30-run loss in the first one-dayer last Friday firmly behind us. We were simply outclassed on that occasion – no excuses – but yesterday we rebounded strongly and are now in a position to capitalise on this convincing performance.

It would be fantastic for us to go 2-1 up in third one-dayer tomorrow in Harare before moving on to Bulawayo for the final two games in the five-match series.

The most heartening and positive aspect of how we played yesterday was the fact that it was a real team effort, with everyone contributing in some way. In the first match, Shiv got a hundred and Morton got a fifty but nobody else really got anything and we lost.

It was nice to see almost everyone among the runs yesterday. Morton led the way and I got some before I unfortunately went off injured and then Marlon and Rampaul had good knocks. All the bowlers got among the wickets as well.

If we can take that form and confidence into tomorrow I think things will go well for us and we should come out on top. The mood in the dressing room after the match was very spirited. Everyone was upbeat. We wanted this badly after the disappointment of last Friday and now we will carry on from here. We still cannot take Zimbabwe for granted and we know we have lots of work to do and we’re committed to giving our best always.

I know all the fans will be eager to hear about the hamstring injury which forced me to retire hurt and the extent of it. All I can say so far is that I will not be playing tomorrow and I will be undergoing an extensive assessment today after which I’ll know more about my prognosis.

It occurred out of the blue as I was going for a quick single with Morton. I knew immediately that I pulled my right hamstring and I indicated that and went off to start treating it one time. I don’t know how long it will take to heal but I know it has to be treated properly and I can’t rush it.

It was great to get some runs [58 from 78 balls] and I was feeling good out in the middle. We have a long tour ahead and hopefully I can get back out there with the guys soon – fighting fit to take on the opposition.

	Ramnaresh Sarwan is confident that Chris Gayle will handle the captaincy well © Getty Images

Naturally, I am disappointed to miss out on these two series but I’m confident that Chris [Gayle] will handle the captaincy well in my absence. I was unable to reach him by phone when I called yesterday so I want to take this opportunity to wish him and the guys all the best. I’m sure they will do very well in the one-day matches in Zimbabwe.

I think we have a young and talented team and it’s a great opportunity for our players to perform and try and win convincingly and get some form before we move on to South Africa because that will be a much tougher tour. Therefore, it’s important that we start off on the right foot versus Zimbabwe to get ourselves ready to tackle South Africa in a few weeks from now.

The guys worked very hard during the pre-tour camp and the best reward we could get now is to do well against Zimbabwe who we can’t take for granted. Even though I am not there to play my part on the field, I will definitely be keeping track of what’s happening over in Africa, whether it’s watching on television – if the cricket is on – or following the matches via the internet and radio.

Meanwhile, I will be continuing my recovery and rehabilitation from my latest setback: the injury to my right ankle. It happened in training on the morning of the KFC Cup game versus Trinidad & Tobago in mid-October and prevented me from taking part in the semi-finals of that event and, of course, from making the team to Africa. Right now, I am aiming to return to action in time to represent Guyana in the Carib Beer Cricket Series starting in early January. If I can do that, I would be very happy as West Indies will be hosting Sri Lanka and Australia next year.

I have been getting treatment at home in Guyana and while in Barbados for the camp and I recently started jogging and using stretch bands to strengthen my ankle. This is really important because you put a lot of pressure on your ankles in batting and while running in the outfield. Though I’m obviously eager to resume playing cricket, I know I need to be careful and not rush my progress. The last thing I need is to re-injure myself at this stage.

So, Chris it’s over to you. Good luck, my friend! I will be in Guyana, continuing to work on my ankle and my overall fitness … and cheering the Windies all the way.