``Herb and I have a hundred reasons to smile'' (21 March 1999)

Sunday 21 March 1999

"Herb and I have a hundred reasons to smile"

I knew a big score was just around the corner, but take it from me, it is a relief that it finally arrived yesterday. The pressure always builds when you're not scoring consistently big runs in the Australian team, so to say it was pleasing to find some form is understatement.

Cricket is such a crazy game!

Ever since I arrived in the West Indies I have been hitting the ball very well without having posted a big score. Yesterday I relaxed a little more and the result looked after itself. It is always nice to score a century, but to score a first-class ton against two West Indian fast bowlers, Nixon McLean and Franklyn Rose, away from home, is very satisfying.

'Herb' Elliott also turned the corner today with a fantastic century. He and I seem to have been under the spotlight from the unforgiving press corps, who have suggested that a change to our top order was imminent. Hopefully our performances in this game will allow us to get on with playing good cricket in the third Test next week.

Carl Hooper returned from Australia two days ago to play in this fixture before the third Test. While everyone here in the Caribbean was anxious to see Hooper back for his batting ability, it was his off-spinners that made all the difference yesterday. Bowling his wily 'offies', he helped himself to five wickets in our first innings.

Today he missed out with the bat, being dismissed by Adam Dale for ten. From a strategic point of view we were thrilled to see the back of him this morning, as we don't want to see him finding any form for the next Test. He is a very dangerous player who is a threat to any opposition team because of his pure ability.

I have always wondered why he never wears a thigh pad when he bats. As we were walking off the ground yesterday I asked him the reason for this perceived madness. He just smiled at me and explained that a hit on his thigh acted as a wake-up call for him during his innings. I know his legs are as thick as tree trunks but if you ask me he is crazy. I can think of better ways to get my feet moving than torturing your legs for a wake-up.

Talking of West Indian hard men, I met Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards this afternoon. This was a thrill for me as he was my boyhood hero. After a short chat he left me with a small piece of advice. "Remember Justin, watch the ball as closely as possible. The only time you get into any trouble is when you don't watch the ball all the way. Do this and you'll be right."

Pretty sound advice from one of the game's greatest ever!

From Antigua, JL