Hooper's headache

Carl Hooper went to sleep last night with a few worries ahead of this weekend's crucial back-to-back Cable & Wireless One-Day Internationals against South Africa.

The West Indies captain surely would not have wanted to dream about what took place at the Antigua Recreation Ground (ARG) three days ago when his bowlers made little impact in defending a total of 220.

With the seven-matches series tied 1-1, the West Indies cannot afford to go to the Queen's Park Stadium and deliver the type of loose material that was on offer in St. John's.

I am sort of worried about the bowling, Hooper admitted yesterday after a practice session at the impressive facilities of the St. George's University.

In the first 15 overs, South Africa seem to be getting off to flyers and being able to maintain pace pretty easily. We've got to get that right and create more pressure.

When the field restrictions were eased at the ARG, South Africa were already 70 for one, and after 15 overs in the opening match at Sabina Park, they were 67 for one.

Cameron Cuffy has been the only West Indian fast bowler to adhere to a consistent off-stump line and three-quarter length, but the West Indies will need Mervyn Dillon to step up this weekend.

Cuffy and Dillon were last night chosen as the West Indies' only two specialist fast bowlers. It suggests that there is a reluctance to use Nixon McLean and Kerry Jeremy, both having proved expensive in the opening matches when they shared the third pacer's slot.

I think they have got the message, but obviously implementing it is going to be a bit difficult, Hooper said in reference to the inconsistency.

In some games we have been good and in some have have been poor. We know that we are capable of beating South Africa, which is most important, and that's what we are going to try and do this weekend.

Plenty is at stake and both teams know that defeats in both matches will leave them in a must-win situation for the fifth match of the series in Barbados on Wednesday.

South Africa, who went into the match at the ARG seeking to avoid a third successive limited-overs defeat for the first time since 1997, are contemplating changing their line-up.

As captain Shaun Pollock explained, the intention is to give others a chance.

We don't want to make too many changes, but you've got to keep guys fresh, he said. After a long tour, a couple of changes might be required.

The likes of Makhaya Ntini, Justin Kemp, Andre Nel and Paul Adams could come into reckoning.

West Indies, however, do not have the luxury of rotating personnel.

We'd like to, but I don't think we've got the quality of players to do that, Hooper said. We need at all times to have the best 11 playing. We're not in South Africa's position where we can rotate and still have a strong squad.

While South Africa hardly did anything wrong on route to Wednesday's eight-wicket success, they still believe they can raise the game a notch higher.

There are always areas to sharpen up on and we've got a few ideas on where we can improve, Pollock said.

Pollock, who was impressed by the relatively new Queen's Park facility, which hosted its first international match two years ago, is among those who feel these matches can shape the course of the series.

It is a big weekend with two games in such a short space of time, the South Africa captain said. If we can win both, we can jump a long way ahead.

Hooper echoed his opposing number.

These are two key fixtures. It's going to be tiring, but if we can get ahead with great games, it is going to be important in going to Barbados.