Barbados: Team's Fielding Will Be Crucial says Head Selector (23 Sep 1998)

23 September 1998

Barbados: Team's Fielding Will Be Crucial says Head Selector

The Barbados Nation

Fielding will be the big issue for the Barbados cricketers as they prepare for next month's Red Stripe Bowl.

Chairman of selectors Charlie Griffith said yesterday that he wanted his team to be "sharp" as they head off to Jamaica for Zone 2 of the October 6-20 One-Day competition.

Griffith said the team would be selected later this week and added that the fielding thrust came about after reports he received on the team's performance at the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"I was not privileged to be in attendance, but official reports indicated that the guys played well in difficult circumstances but the fielding was the only disappointment," the former West Indies fast bowler said.

"Therefore, I think we need to ensure that the players are fit and quick across the ground for the Bowl.

"If you want to be competitive at such a level you need your fielding to be a major part of your game. Too many matches are won or lost by very small margins," he added.

"If your fielding is good the other aspects of your game tend to fall into place."

Griffith added that most of the team were expected to return home from Malaysia later this week, and he was awaiting a medical report on batsman Roland Holder before the team is selected.

Holder, who returned home last weekend, missed most of the Commonwealth Games because of injury, but was expected to be fit for the Bowl.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)