Logie: 'We Must Dig Deeper'

West Indies will have to dig deep in the test series against South Africa to make up for the absence of several players through injury, according to coach Gus Logie.

"We've had to change a few players in our squad because of injuries," Logie told the Reuters news agency before Friday's start to the first of the four tests. "That has been a setback, but it's nothing we can't overcome. In fact, it will give our players more impetus to know that they have to dig even deeper."

Fast bowler Jerome Taylor, all rounder Omari Banks and batsman Marlon Samuels have all suffered series-ending injuries and fresh replacements -- Adam Sanford, Dwayne Smith and Dave Mohamed -- are being flown in.

Mohamed has already arrived in South Africa while Dwayne Smith departs on Thursday and Sanford on Sunday.

"You come here with a set plan, and you expect certain quality players to fit into the whole make-up of the squad," Logie said.

"Omari Banks was certainly a big part of that set-up, Jerome Taylor is a young, exciting prospect who we were looking forward to see bowling in South African conditions, and Marlon Samuels has been around and is experienced.

"We thought we had the right combination coming here, and it's unfortunate that we have had to rethink that," the West Indies coach added.

"The replacements will have to fit in, and the players who were here originally will have to take on more responsibility," Logie said.

The West Indies will be motivated by a desire to avenge their 5-0 thrashing in the test series the last time they toured South Africa in 1998-99 -- their first whitewash.

"That is something we look forward to as professional sportsmen, playing to the best of our ability to gain not only the respect of the opposition but of your own people and of the sporting public," Logie said. "If we do the right things, the results will take care of themselves."

"I'm not unduly worried about the bowling," Logie said. "At our best we have been able to dismiss teams. It's always going to be hard work, and I'm confident our attack will come good when it needs to.

"South Africa are at home, they've always been aggressive and they'll be coming at us all the time. We need to focus on what we can control."

* With wire service reports.