'I will be ready'
MICHELLE McDONALD talks to DEVON SMITH
We continue talking to the 'newbies' on the West Indies team, playing in their first Cricket World Cup in front of their home crowds. After the Group Stage matches, things have gone horribly wrong for team West Indies. Can a hometown boy turn it around?
CaribbeanCricket.com chatted with Grenadian Devon Smith, yet to be named in a starting XI, two days before his team faces South Africa
Your first World Cup. How has the experience been so far for you?
It's a good experience, my first World Cup. So far, it hasn't been the way we expected it to be but we can still go out there and do our best.
How would you describe the mood in the team now?
Considering yesterday's results (Bangladesh beating South Africa), I think the guys have been gelling together because we know that we have a good chance seeing that yesterday Bangladesh beat South Africa, so I think the guys are getting together and looking forward to the game on Tuesday.
Ok, but it shouldn't be that we are depending on other teams' results to know our fate.
Yes, but one of the things is that it gives the guys a little more encouragement to go out there and fight a little harder. So I think the guys are gelling together and everybody knows what they're up to so they have to go out there and do it on Tuesday.
You're Grenadian. You're in Grenada where the next match will be played and I am sure that a lot of Grenadians will be hoping that you're going to get a game on Tuesday. Do you have any idea whether you will be playing?
I haven't heard anything as yet but I'm keeping the faith and hope that I will get a game on Tuesday and hope that I would do good things.
This 'keeping the faith' materialized for you because the last time I spoke with you, you were going off to India. Talk about that tour.
The tour to India was not the best, but I think I performed reasonably. At least I am kind of pleased with the performance that I gave. I got good starts but unfortunately didn't continue, didn't carry on, but I was in good knick, feeling good and I think that is one of the reasons why I am here now, because of my performance in India.
How did you find the wickets? Did they play as you expected them to?
Yes they did. A bit on the slow side but a batting paradise so once you occupy yourself, you can get good results there.
What has been the feedback from your team members who have batted on the wickets so far in the World Cup, as to the quality of the pitches?
They say the wickets are very good for batting. Early up, the ball is new so you will get a little movement but other than that, they've been real good batting tracks. People would say the guys didn't really apply themselves they way they should. I think that's basically it.
Do you think generally the team understands what they have done wrong and what they must do now for the next half of the matches in the Super Eights?
Yes, of course the guys know because all the time we have meetings and discuss strengths and weaknesses.
Without giving away too much, because obviously some things are confidential, but I think the spectators would be very curious to know what happens after you have a disastrous result like in the last match. What happens after that?
Hmm, just go back to the drawing board. Spectators are looking for good things but is not every day you are going to come out on top so that's something you've got to bear with and move on from strength to strength. Once you know where your weaknesses are, go and work on it and make sure that next time you come around, you know how to handle it.
Right, but that seems pretty straight forward just to say that but how can it really happen? For example Tuesday is coming, it's a national holiday in Grenada, I am sure a lot of people will be coming out. How can they be sure that the West Indies is going to put up a good performance?
Well, considering the fact that we lost the first three games, some people might have confidence and others might not. Again too, it's who plays better on the day so I hope that we play better on the day and lead it from in front. When the day reaches, it's a matter of who plays better. It's something you can't always do, please the crowd. Sometimes you try your best but your best isn't good enough.
Some people have said that the crowds in the first couple of games weren't what the players are accustomed to. Do you think that has anything to do with how the team performed?
No, I don't think it's a matter of that. It's a matter of working on your strengths and knowing your weaknesses. It's a mental thing I think. Once you are physically fit and mentally fit, everything else will fall into place. Once you are fit, you think about your game more and you focus a bit more, and for longer periods.
Do you think a psychologist could help?
Well I wouldn't really say that. It's just a matter of the guys reading some more and relax some more. Have some music in your head.
What kind of music though? Dancehall?
It's whatever kind of music you like for relaxation.
What do you do to relax?
What I do to relax is go to my room, listen to music and watch tv. That relaxes me.
You don't read?
Yes, I read but not…you mean like cricket books and so? Get an idea of what the older guys used to do before, some form of information.
One of those older guys is with you – Clive Lloyd. How has he helped you personally?
I think he has helped me a lot because talking to him, he gives me a lot of confidence that you can believe in yourself, go out there and do the job, regardless of what, regardless of who you playing against, the opponents. Once you believe in yourself.
I spoke with Daren Powell and Dwayne Smith during the first round in Jamaica and they were very confident that the West Indies can reach the Finals. Does the team still believe?
Of course the team still believes. We all go out there to win and sometimes things don't really go the way you want it to, but we always go out there to win and we believe we can pull it off. Just have to focus on the job at hand.
Let's say that on Tuesday morning, you are told that you are going to be starting, whether you're opening, whether you're batting at number 3. Tell me what that would feel like for you?
It would be a great feeling as I always believe that when they call upon me, I will be ready. So if they call up on me, I know I will be surprised but I will be mentally ready, physically ready. I think the crowd would like that because people are saying they want me to get a try, so I think it would be good for me, and for Grenada.