A new cricket academy for young players, directed by former West Indies manager Dr Rudi Webster, will open in Grenada in May with the aim of reviving Caribbean cricket.

"There is no real difference in the quality of players in Australia and West Indies up to the age of 16." said Webster, known affectionately as the 'Witchdoctor', at the launch of the Cricket Academy of St George's University on Monday.

"But after that the Australians forge ahead because their cricket is stronger and better organised at the grassroots level and their development programmes are superior," he added.

Webster hopes to close the gap on the Australians, who beat the West Indies 5-0 in (he recent Test series, using his philosophy entitled "The Four Cornerstones of Winning Cricket”.

"Good fitness, sound technique. sensible tactics and strategy, and good mental skills. Those four factors are all very Important and are interconnected and Inter-dependent," he said.

Webster, who managed the

West Indies in the late 1970s and was associated with top level cricket in the region throughout its heyday, said the success of the past was based on his four principles.

"Its success was not due to talent alone or good luck, as so many people believe." he said.

"The team was very talented but it was also mentally lough, extremely disciplined, and highly motivated. It was fanatical about its fitness and aggressive tactics and handled pressure particularly well."

"Once leaders in those four ureas. we are now lagging far behind the pack. The rest of the world has not just caught up with us. they have charged ahead," he added.

Webster will personally supervise the 12-week programme for ihe region's best young players.

"(Our) primary aim is to develop their cricket and further their education." he said.

"One of our most important priorities will be to teach them the value ol sell-discipline, self acceptance, and u good work ethic."

Webster will also seek help from the Caribbean's sporting superpower, Cuba.

"One of its baseball coJches will teach some of the fielding techniques and fitness methods used in Cuban baseball. A second Cuban, a doctor in sports medicine will help our players to sharpen their eyesight and concentration." he said.

Meanwhile. the West Indies ( ti. ket Board (WICB) are pushing h>r the game to be once more laugh! in primary schools around ihv Caribbean.

Chief executive Gregory' Shillingford told a press conference in Grenada the board had been talking to education officials about re-introducing cricket into schools' curricula, especially primary schools.

Shillingford said WICB president Pai Rousseau had been emphasising Air need to concentrate on programmes for eight to 15-year-olds.

He added: "We are presently-talking with the F.CB (England Cricket Board) who have just launched a programme in the United Kingdom to be able to provide us with technical assistance for developing a curriculum initiative involving cricket in the schools."