KEY POINTS:
The West Indies cricket team are refusing to be drawn into the controversy over the "it's all white here" campaign, as their coach arrived in New Zealand looking forward to a tough series against the Black Caps.
The Windies' Australian coach John Dyson flew into Christchurch yesterday, minus
his team's captain Chris Gayle and other players who had been delayed by visa issues, for a tour that will include two test matches, two Twenty20 matches, and five one dayers.
He was immediately met with a barrage of questions about the controversial campaign by Otago Cricket, who had been using the slogan "it's all white here" to promote the first test between the Black Caps and the West Indies in Dunedin, while calling for a "white out" by supporters.
Otago Cricket defended it by saying it was simply a catchphrase using a colour associated with cricket, but the campaign was dropped soon after criticism from the West Indies Players Association, and an apology has been made.
Dyson was determined not to add fuel to the fire yesterday, playing a straight bat to questions and constantly changing the subject to on-field matters.
"We've been notified of it. But look, we are concerned with the cricket. We just want to play the game," he said.
"I'm just happy to be back here. And looking forward to the series. I think it will be a very hard fought series."
Dyson watched the Black Caps crumble from a good position to lose their first test against Australia by 149 runs, and felt they did a "pretty good job for most of the game".
"There are a few areas of their game that they will be disappointed with. I think the batsmen will spend a bit of time in the nets this week."
He promised his bowlers would bring pace to match the successful formula used by the Australians against the New Zealand batsmen. "It's an interesting group of pace bowlers we have got. What we have tried to do is cover all the bases."
The Windies have just come off a one-day series loss against Pakistan, and Dyson conceded his side did not play well.
"When I say we didn't do well, we had three games and we probably should have won the series three-nil. But we weren't able to convert winning positions into wins.
"Compared to the form we were in at the start of that series, to the form we are in now, we are in much better nick."
Asked how his team would handle New Zealand's seaming wickets, Dyson said: "I think we will play as well as anyone on green pitches."
His typically free-flowing batsmen would not be afraid to play shots. "It's the old adage - you get 'em before they get you."
