Injuries deplete West Indies fourth Test stocks (31 December 1998)

31 December 1998

Injuries deplete West Indies fourth Test stocks

By Tony Cozier in Durban

For only the second time in his remarkable career, Courtney Walsh will miss a Test for the West Indies here Saturday through injury. And he could well be joined on the sidelines by Curtly Ambrose, the partner with whom he has carried the attack for so long.

It would be the first time both are missing a Test together since Ambrose made his debut against Pakistan in 1988.

Walsh, 36-year-old veteran of 105 Tests, was yesterday ruled out of action "for at least 10 days" by a doctor after tearing his left hamstring muscle chasing a ball in the outfield on the last day of the Third Test in Durban on Tuesday.

Only once before in his 14 years of Test cricket has the indefatigable fast bowler missed a Test through injury-also with a damaged hamstring against India at Kensington Oval in 1997.

Ambrose, who was clearly below his best and went wicketless in the Durban Test, has had a painful left knee for some time. Manager Clive Lloyd said last night that if he is to play, he will need cortizone injections.

Lloyd said he had been in touch with West Indies Cricket Board CEO Stephen Camacho about the situation and was awaiting word as to whether a replacement will be chosen. The fifth and final Test starts at Centurion Park in Pretoria on January 15 which would give Walsh just minimal recovery time.

"We've been dogged by injuries all tour and these are two tremendous setbacks," Lloyd said. "These are further setbacks for these are two great bowlers who have done great service over the years and already on this tour."

But Lloyd noted that it would give a chance to the support fast bowlers to step into the breach and show their worth.

"We will obviously miss Courtney but it's the time now for Nixon McLean and Merv Dillon to fill the breach," he said. "Franklyn Rose took his opportunity brilliantly in Durban (he took seven wickets for 84) and they can now show what they're made of."

If Ambrose is also unable to play, it would limit the West Indies to only three inexperienced fast bowlers with 21 Tests and 51 wickets between them. It would also mean the retention of Rawl Lewis whose leg-spin has been ineffective in his two Tests that have brought him a solitary wicket.

While it would not be possible for a replacement fast bowler to arrive in time for the Fourth Test on Saturday, two fast bowlers who have already represented the West Indies, Vasbert Drakes and Ottis Gibson, are engaged in first-class cricket in South Africa.

Drakes, who had five One-day Internationals against Australia in 1995, is head of the national first-class averages with 29 wickets at 12 runs each while Gibson, whose solitary Test was against England at Lord's in 1995, has had success in his first season with Griqualand West.

It is highly unlikely that either would be considered. Gibson played only two President's Cup matches last season and Drakes none at all although both represented Barbados against England.

If a replacement is required, he would almost certainly be chosen from the recent West Indies "A" team to Bangladesh and India. Ian Bishop, the tour captain, would have the experience of 43 Tests in his favour while Reon King and the left-handed Pedro Collins would be the other contenders.

Injuries have already forced the calling up of two replacements from the "A" team.

Left-handed batsman Floyd Reifer came in for Jimmy Adams who severed tendons in his right little finger while attempting to cut a bread roll on the flight from London while Lewis replaced the originally chosen leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine who returned home after one match to have an operation on his right shoulder.

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