Injuries Upset West Indies (8 December 1998)

8 December 1998

Injuries Upset West Indies

By Tony Cozier

PORT ELIZABETH - Two first-choice players have already had to be replaced because of injury and the West Indies could learn today whether another must be added to the list.

Franklyn Rose, sidelined with a sore heel after bowling 17 overs against Border last Friday, will see a doctor here to determine the extent of the problem.

With the second Test starting at St. George's Park here on Thursday, manager Clive Lloyd said last night it was "highly unlikely" that Rose could be considered for selection.

"A preliminary examination in East London revealed some internal bleeding but we need a more detailed assessment," Lloyd said yesterday after the squad arrived here after a leisurely four-hour coach drive west from East London, broken half-way by a lunch stop at a luxury resort.

"This is a very intensive tour and we really should be at full numerical strength," he added. "Hopefully, Franklyn's problem will prove not to be serious and he'll be soon back bowling."

Fast bowler Rose's injury follows those that forced two original choices, Jimmy Adams and Dinanath Ramnarine, to drop out even before the first Test to be replaced by players from the "A" team in India.

Adams, the experienced left-hand batsman and utility left-arm spinner, was replaced by another left-hand batsman, Floyd Reifer, after severing tendons in his right little finger on the flight from London. He returned to Jamaica last week after surgery and recuperative treatment in Johannesburg.

Leg-spinner Ramnarine's ailment was a weakened shoulder he had been carrying since the Red Stripe Bowl tournament in October.

It clearly affected his bowling in his one match here and he was sent back to receive specialised treatment.

Another leg-spinner, Rawl Lewis, was fast-tracked from India to take his place and played in the first Test.

The worries have been compounded by shoulder problems to Nixon McLean that, like Ramnarine, have prevented him from throwing overhand. Curtly Ambrose has also reported the same complaint.

With different actions to a leg-spinner, their bowling has not been restricted but the disability will impact on their run-saving ability in the field. McLean's defect reduced him to an ineffective under-arm flick from the deep in the match against Border, a condition predictably exploited by the batsmen

With Courtney Walsh a long-time sufferer with the same impairment, the West Indies will find themselves seriously disadvantaged against opponents who pay special attention to their running between the wickets.

Coach Malcolm Marshall complained during the tour of Australia in 1996-97 that the West Indies were behind by between 20 and 30 runs in the field.

Against the best fielding team in the game, and with the current disabilities, that figure is likely to increase. It is a handicap no team can afford.

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