Lara's Choices In Line-Up (20 November 1998)

20 November 1998

Lara's Choices In Line-Up

by Tony Cozier in Blomfontein

THE West Indies eleven for the first Test against South Africa in a week's time took definite shape last night with the selection of the team for the four-day match against Orange Free State, starting here, today.

Following captain Brian Lara's stated preference for "sticking to the guys who are playing in the Test", it includes Ridley Jacobs for his second successive match as wicket-keeper, Nixon McLean and Merv Dillon as support fast bowlers for the returning Curtly Ambrose, Stuart Williams at No.6 and leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine.

Only Courtney Walsh is missing, hobbled by tendinitis in his right knee that now has only six days to heal for him to take his established place alongside Ambrose with the new ball. Rated 75 per cent fit by physiotherapist Dennis Waight, he must remain in doubt, although his remarkable record of recovery over the years is cause for optimism.

Jacobs is preferred to Junior Murray and, on the evidence, will make his Test debut in Johannesburg, the fourth wicket-keeper and the umpteenth change made since the exit of Jeffrey Dujon after 81 Tests in 1991.

McLean and Dillon are placed above Franklyn Rose and Williams ahead of the newcomer Daren Ganga, principally because of his experience although it is an unaccustomed position for him. Ramnarine has the chance to make a claim for a balanced attack and, although it is his first match on the tour, his exploits with the "A" team in South Africa last season should be an advantage.

Both Lara and Hooper are playing, in spite of their early tour form that included half-centuries at Soweto in the opener "For myself, I would like to see if I am now picking up some momentum," Lara said. "I'd like to know if I can go out there and feel it again and get another big score, to build on that momentum going into the Test.

"I know Carl feels the same way," he added.

The state team will be led by the man Lara will also toss up with next week, South Africa's captain, Hansie Cronje, although his key strike bowler, Allan Donald, has predictably been given the match off.

Opening batsman Gerry Liebenberg and left-arm spinner Nic Boje have both represented South Africa and remain on the fringe of the Test side.

How much cricket they all manage to get in is another matter. The heavy rain and fierce electrical storm on Wednesday was followed by more of the same yesterday afternoon, soaking an already soft ground.

West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Philo Wallace, Clayton Lambert, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carl Hooper, Stuart Williams, Ridley Jacobs, Merv Dillon, Curtly Ambrose, Nixon McLean and Dinanath Ramnarine.

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