``We have the talent but my job is to instil a sense of professionalism in the team so that it delivers the goods,'' says Greenidge while dwelling upon his role as a coach. Bangladesh alongwith Kenya and hosts India would be featuring in a triangular overs-limited series that gets under way tomorrow at the PCA Stadium in S A S Nagar near here.

Greenidge, a scourge of bowlers all around the world during the eighties, has been quite effective in his new role too. He guided Bangladesh to ICC Trophy victory in Kuala Lumpur last year and was instrumental in the team qualifying for the 1996 World Cup. Most importantly, the team was accorded ICC's permanent international status. As a mark of respect and gratitude, the Bangladesh government conferred upon him thecitizenship of the country. ``I will never forget the love they gave me,'' he reminisces. ``We have found a platform and now have to sustain ourselves. That won't be easy but we are working on that. We have to develop a cricket culture and once the youngsters start taking to the game with all seriousness we can progress.

``Before me Jimmy (Mohinder) Amarnath was the one who trained these guys. I had no adjustment problems and picked up the threads. The boys have a good rapport with me. I hope they do not let me down,'' Greenidge felt.

``Frankly, I would say that I am not fully satisfied with the results. However, the board and the government are taking keen interest in the game and as we have time on our side, we can do it.

``I would like to see the boys play more and more matches like these ones. They can gain tremendously through exposure. It would be chivalrous to say that we will try and win the World Cup in England, though, I feel even if we perform well and maybe win a couple of matches we willgain a lot. Once you smell success, you get the kicks and feel like smelling it again and again. Look at Kenya. They beat the West Indies in the last World Cup and they are still on a high,'' he says.

There could be no better player than Gordon Greenidge to talk about the supposed decline of West Indian cricket. ``You can't say that cricket has died down there. It's just that West Indies are in the transitional stage. It has taken a little longer than desired but they will surely climb up the ladder, '' Greenidge said. ``The problem was that we did not groom youngsters while we were winning during the eighties and that caused the lull. The wickets are becoming slower and slower, hindering fast bowlers while there is a dearth of good spinners. We need to have an overall development programme in which the senior players can contribute immensely.''

Incidentally, Greenidge also made his international debut in India under Clive Llyod in 1974.