Adams asks team to stand up to the challenge

Adams asks team to stand up to the challenge

MELBOURNE, NOV 20: West Indies captain Jimmy Adams called on his batsmen on Monday to stand and be counted before the first Test with Australia in Brisbane on Thursday.

``If it's raining they're indoors if it's not then they're outdoors so I can't fault that. I really can't.''

Adams called on his batsmen to pay more attention to the basics -- building partnerships and batting through sessions -- and said all of the 16 touring players had to take responsibility for a recovery.

``It won't happen without the entire team. Everyone has a role to play even players who are young players and who might be struggling,'' he said.

``It won't happen if one man stands up. It has to be a whole team approach.''

Adams refused to speculate on their first Test team allowing Sunday's disastrous loss to Victoria at the MCG.

``It's too early to tell,'' he said. ``We select the team the night before the Test so I would be speaking out of turn if I tried to answer that question.''

The Windies will name their team Wednesday night, barely 12 hours before they take on the record-breaking Australians at the Gabba.

Their chances of stopping Australia's 10-match winning streak seem remote after Sunday's capitulation to Victoria, when they folded for 114 to lose by an innings and 63 runs.

They were close to full-strength, with paceman Marlon Black the only expected change to the Test bowling attack for leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo.

Adams would not discuss the batting role for star Brian Lara, who was exposed to the new ball early Sunday at No 3 after the early loss of under-performing opener Darren Ganga.

Adams admitted that Lara, who scored 19 and 20, had played at No 3 as a dress rehearsal for the Test but the skipper said all possibilities would be reviewed before the series began.

Test stats and milestones

- Australia needs one win to equal the record for the most consecutive Test wins (11), set by the West Indies in 1984-85.

- Glenn McGrath needs 12 wickets to reach 300 Test wickets and three to join Craig McDermott as the third most successful wicket-taker in Australian Test cricket.

- West Indies' Courtney Walsh requires 17 wickets to become the first player in history to reach 500 Test wickets.

- Brian Lara needs 137 runs to move alongside Richie Richardson in seventh position for leading run scorers for West Indies.