No slip-ups - WI coach Gibson

NEW DELHI, India (CMC) :

Ottis Gibson admitted on Saturday that his team can ill afford to slip-up against ICC associates Netherlands in the World Cup ahead of their match that started earlier this morning.

The West Indies coach refused to describe the Dutch as minnows, and recognised this opponent had proved a point with a solid performance in their opening match against England, when all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate led them to 292 for six from their 50 overs, and Andrew Strauss' side overhauled the total with just eight deliveries remaining.

"This is the World Cup, and every game is going to be tough," said Gibson. "A lot has been said this week and also last week about the minnows, ICC deciding to have 10 teams for 2014 (World Cup).

"I don't like to call them minnows, they are a sort of lesser team if you like it. They are here to prove a point, and they did prove a point against England."

Seven-wicket defeat

West Indies suffered a seven-wicket defeat in their World Cup opener last Thursday against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, where they will also tackle the Dutch.

To add insult to injury, vice-captain and key all-rounder Dwayne Bravo hurt his knee in the match, and is flying home to start rehab. He has since been replaced by leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo.

Gibson acknowledged that plans would have to seriously change in the light of Bravo's injury.

"It's a big setback obviously," he said. "Our strategy was built around three all-rounders - our captain Darren Sammy, Bravo, and Kieron Pollard. It gives us an opportunity to, maybe, rethink our strategy."

Gibson insists that critics should not write the West Indies off so early in the championship, despite their injury setbacks, and opening loss.

"People will say whatever they want, but we know what we can do," he said." "Our players have got a lot of belief that they can prove to the world that we are still a more than a capable nation, and that cricket is still very much alive in the Caribbean."

Zimbabwe will play Canada in the day's other game at Nagpur.