KINGSTON (Jamaica), May 20: West Indian batting legend Gordon Greenidge, now convenor of the West Indies selectors, said confidence was the key for his team in the upcoming three-Test series against Australia.

The West Indies go into the series on the back of a drawn home series against Sri Lanka, with the one-day series won 2-0, and Greenidge said: “The players must believe that they can step up and show what they are really capable of.

“We have to decide to be more forceful, more positive and spend time at the crease. What we want is consistency. This is something we have been fighting for over the years,” the former opening batsman said ahead of the opening Test on Thursday.

“This series presents an opportunity for players to be counted - new players and established players.”

Greenidge revelled as a player in the ultra-confident West Indies sides of the 1970s, playing 108 Tests at an average of 44.72 alongside fellow greats such as Desmond Haynes, Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall, Clive Lloyd and Joel Garner.

And he insisted that a positive, measured approach against Australia, the top-ranked team in Test cricket, was essential.

“We have to be positive in our approach. Being positive, in this case, does not mean going overboard and trying to hit every ball to the boundary,” he said.

“Common sense has to prevail. You have to first see what is happening and then be positive in your approach.”

Greenidge added: “We have to look at the overall game and have a positive game plan. We need application and concentration on the job and we will do very well.”—AFP