12 March 1999
Collymore replaces injured King
Tony Cozier
The time will inevitably come when West Indies cricket will awake from
its present, prolonged nightmare. But, for the moment, it remains
constantly dreadful.
Tuesday's news that Shivnarine Chanderpaul would not, after all, be
fit enough for tomorrow's Second Cable & Wireless Test at Sabina Park,
that Carl Hooper would not be back from Australia in time and that
Curtly Ambrose was carrying an inflamed knee was followed yesterday by
a fresh injury.
Fast bowler Reon King, who was a possible starter in view of the
continuing doubt over Ambrose, fell heavily on his shoulder during
practice and was ruled out of the match after a medical examination.
The selectors immediately called for Corey Collymore, who had been
omitted from the squad of 15 for the First Test only a day earlier.
The 22-year-old Barbadian has impressed knowledgeable judges in his
debut season in which he has taken 24 wickets in his first five
first-class matches and, if required, he should not noticeably weaken
the bowling.
While King was away at the doctor's, Ambrose was putting his suspect
knee to a reality test and Australian captain Steve Waugh was
examining the pitch and coming to a conclusion guaranteed to bring a
sparkle to the eyes of his two leg-spinners, Shane Warne and Stuart
MacGill.
Team trainer Dennis Waight declared himself satisfied with Ambrose's
workout.
"He bowled in the nets, if not flat out, and did several sprints,"
Waight said. "He hasn't had any adverse reaction and the swelling in
the knee has disappeared. We'll see how he goes after another workout
in the morning but he looks as if he'll be quite alright."
Waugh delivered an ominous report on the pitch.
"Unless I'm a bad judge, it is going to turn square," he said. "I
think it's going to be bouncy on the first day but it's only a matter
of time before it starts spinning big time."
The square at Sabina Park was dug up and relaid last year following
the abandonment after an hour of the First Test against England
because umpires David Shepherd and Steve Bucknor and match referee
Barry Jarman, the former Australian wicket-keeper, deemed it too
dangerous.
It favoured the spinners in the three Busta Cup matches this season
with off-spinners Nehemiah Perry of Jamaica and Mukesh Persad of
Trinidad and Tobago and leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo each claiming
10 wickets in a match.
Perry is certain to play his First Test at the age of 30 in his 13th
season of regional cricket. He has had an encouraging season, with 30
wickets in the six Busta Cup matches, and will be supported by his
fellow Jamaican Jimmy Adams, whose occasional left-arm spin earned him
two wickets in Australia's second innings of the First Test. But they
do not carry nearly the same threat as Warne, Test cricket's most
prolific spin bowler, and MacGill who reached 50 wickets in Port of
Spain in only his ninth Test.
Waugh's talk, of course, could well be all bluff. Pitch supervisor,
Patrick Gordon, promised a "well balanced pitch that is going to give
you a good game of cricket" and Jamaica Board president Jackie
Hendriks said "it looks a good pitch to me. The bounce is good," he
added. "I have no complaints."
Then again, we were being told much the same thing just over a year
ago. Sabina was the scene of Australia's innings victory in the final
Test in 1995 that clinched the series 2-1 and regained for them the
Frank Worrell Trophy after a break of 18 years. Steve Waugh
accumulated his highest Test score, an even 100, and his twin brother
Mark 126, sharing a partnership of 231.
Another victory to follow their crushing 312-run triumph in the First
Test would retain the Trophy they won again in the teams' last meeting
in Australia two years ago. Even Bombay bookmakers would be reluctant
to offer odds on them achieving it.
Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)