Boosted Windies try again (24 January 1999)

24 January 1999

Boosted Windies try again

From Tony Cozier in East London

In spite OF the West Indies frenzied last-ball defeat by South Africa in the opening One-day International in Johannesburg late Friday, manager Clive Lloyd maintained yesterday he was more heartened by the team's attitude than upset by the result.

"They were very emotionally drained afterwards and that's understandable because it was a very tense game," he said. "But I thought they showed pretty good spirit throughout and that's what we need."

The same eleven from the first match has been retained for the second, in daylight rather than under the lights, here today.

Lloyd conceded that, with hindsight, captain Brian Lara might have made a couple of different tactical decisions, such as using Carl Hooper's off-spin instead of giving medium-pacer Keith Semple his full quota of five in his debut ODI and entrusting the last over to Hooper instead of left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell.

"But in matches when the overs are reduced as much as they were (to 27 in the South African innings) the action is concentrated and things happen quickly," he said. "If we look on the positive side of it, it's experience that will stand Semple and McGarrell in good stead."

Lloyd remained convinced that the One-day series would be much closer than the Tests.

"They're probably the best team in the shortened game in the world but we showed on Friday night that, even with three players with little or no experience at this level, we can compete with them," he said. "To lose as we did was a big disappointment, obviously, but I was generally happy with the way we fought."

Lloyd again bemoaned the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) rejection of the team management's request to retain Merv Dillon for the series.

"I understand the financial argument but I think it's being a bit penny wise and pound foolish," he said. "We've only got three fast bowlers in (Curtly) Ambrose, (Reon) King and (Nixon) McLean and we could have used a fourth given the conditions in Johannesburg. Judging by what we saw in the Tests, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Centurion are also likely to favour the faster men."

Neither Lloyd nor coach Malcolm Marshall is on the selection panel although they put forward their views before the squad for the ODIs was chosen.

Lloyd is also concerned about what might happen if one of the three quicks is injured during the coming six matches. It would likely mean having to turn again to Ottis Gibson, who was seconded from his season with South African province, Griqualand West, an arrangement that would also be costly.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul fit easily back into the opening position, striking the ball with crisp power to score 42 of his 45 in boundaries. Hooper played as only he can, even if spasmodically, and Keith Arthurton looked at ease in his unbeaten 22.

Once more Ambrose emphasised his quality by commanding the line and length he wanted and consistently hitting the seam throughout his six consecutive overs. The legacy of his strained hamstring would have been a consideration in Lara's decision not to break his spell for fear that the muscle might have tightened up on a cool, damp night.

The contrast in the ground fielding and throwing was again stark. The conservative difference would have been 10 runs, in other words, the match.

Lara has made the obvious point that the series here and the seven ODIs to follow against Australia in the Caribbean in April are preparation for the World Cup in England in May and June and a guide for the selectors.

It is evident, and predictable, that fielding is the one area the West Indies need to attend to more than any other.

Thankfully, there are no longer any concerns over another area that was such cause for worry for so long.

Ridley Jacobs's reputation behind the wicket was further enhanced with yet another grand catch to add to the many during the Test series, intercepting Jacques Kallis's edge with an extended right glove an inch about the turf.

Now if only Lara could get some big runs.

Source :: The Trinidad Express (https://www.trinidad.net/express/)