Going for broke

Abbreviated as it is, the two-match Test series between West Indies and Zimbabwe offers the Caribbean a real chance to claim their first overseas series triumph since they overcame Australia under Richie Richardson in 1992-93.

Since then, West Indies' record has become progressively more distressing and the victory in the first Test in Bulawayo was only their second in their last 21 Tests away from home.

Captain Hooper expects an outright result because, in his estimation, the teams are not good enough to go five days and play out for a draw.

But he is justifiably optimistic that he will be the one collecting the new Clive Lloyd Trophy, presented by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for perpetual competition between the teams and accompanied from London yesterday by the most successful West Indies captain himself.

If we play anything as decently as we played in Bulawayo, I think we'll beat Zimbabwe, he said.

I'm confident we're better than Zimbabwe and, once we play decent cricket, are not complacent, and stick to the basics of the game, we will beat them.

Complacency is always the greatest fear of those in charge of teams with the kind of imposing advantage the West Indies secured in the first Test.

The potential for it is enhanced by the injuries that keep key batsmen Andy Flower and Stuart Carlisle out of the opposition XI and by the internal problems that have proved an obvious distraction.

Hooper said he could find no evidence of it from all the signs in the nets. What he did observe was a lot of confidence radiating through the team.

If there is any excess enthusiasm, it should be tempered by Zimbabwe's comeback on the same Harare Sports Club ground to win the second Test and share the series against India. The pitch was what Hooper anticipated after Bulawayo very dry, without too much grass on it or moisture.

Colin Stuart and Reon King bowled with a bit of pace there on the fourth day and I don't think Zimbabwe fancied that, he said. So, as expected, this looks dry, fairly flat and good for batting and the bowlers will probably have their work cut out.

Yet Hooper indicated he would more than likely choose to bowl if he won the toss. The stated reason was that the pitch is reputedly bouncier than at Bulawayo but the fact that Zimbabwe folded for 155 and 228 there and are short of quality batting is clearly another consideration.

While the Zimbabwe selectors had a lengthy meeting yesterday trying to settle their final XI, in the end making only one necessary change, Hooper could announce that his team would be the same, all to the enforced change of Courtney Browne for Ridley Jacobs as wicket-keeper.

There was also a little doubt about Pedro Collins who was being treated for a slight niggle in his right leg, but it is not serious and Hooper is counting on him to play. If he isn't ready this morning, Marlon Black or Corey Collymore will replace him.

Zimbabwe brought in Hamilton Masakadza for Carlisle who fractured a finger fielding in the first Test. Masakadza is a tall, 17-year-old opening batsman and colleague of 18-year-old wicket-keeper Tatenda Taibu at Churchill College in Harare.

He is only the second black batsman to represent Zimbabwe after Trevor Madondo, who died of malaria last month at the age of 24. He had batted solidly in his two first-class matches against the West Indies and is highly touted by Dave Houghton, the former Zimbabwe captain.

Fast bowlers Brighton Watambwa and the experienced Henry Olonga were reportedly not considered match ready after lengthy lay-offs through injury.

The West Indies have had to do without more key players here than on any tour in recent memory but the loss of Jacobs, through match referee Dennis Lindsay's suspension for an incident in one of the One- Day Internationals, is as crucial as any.

Since his tardy introduction into the team in South Africa in 1998-99, when he made his debut on his 31st birthday, Jacobs has provided stability in every sense for 32 consecutive Tests, as wicket-keeper (117 catches, 4 stumpings), No.7 batsman (average 28.8) and unwavering team man (now vice-captain).

Browne, who temporarily takes his place, is a competent keeper with the experience of 13 Tests, the last four years ago in St Vincent against Sri Lanka. But it won't be the same without Jacobs.

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Courtney Browne, Neil McGarrell, Colin Stuart, Pedro Collins (or Marlon Black/Corey Collymore) and Reon King.

Zimbabwe: Heath Streak (captain), Dion Ebrahim, Alistair Campbell, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Wishart, Guy Whittal, Grant Flower, Andy Blignaut, Tatenda Taibu, Bryan Strang, Ray Price.

Umpires: K.C. Barbour (Zimbabwe), A.J.Jayaprakash (India).

Match referee: D.T.Lindsay (South Africa).