Lloyd calls for seriousness (15 December 1998)

15 December 1998

Lloyd calls for seriousness

From Tony Cozier in Port Elizabeth

West Indies team manager Clive Lloyd has urged his players to approach their four-day match against a strong South Africa "A" team next weekend as if it was the Third Test. That and Thursday's One-day match against a Natal Eleven in the Durban township of Chatsworth are the only two prior to the back-to-back Tests in Durban, the Third starting on Boxing Day, and the Fourth, starting in Cape Town on January 2. Two down in the series, the West Indies cannot afford to lose either.

"We've been too relaxed in our first-class matches so far," Lloyd said, echoing the earlier sentiments of captain Brian Lara. "We got ourselves into good positions and then seemed to take things for granted. Instead of winning against Griqualand West and Free State, we had to put up with a draw and a defeat."

The West Indies couldn't convert a first innings lead of 195 over Griqualand West into victory and, after routing Free State for 67 in their first innings and setting a winning target of 438, endured a stunning loss by two wickets as South African captain Hansie Cronje hit an unbeaten 158.

In their other provincial match, against Border, they went through the motions on the last day as the home batsmen accumulated 340 for eight. "There is a purpose to these matches outside the Tests and we haven't paid enough attention to it," Lloyd said. "It is an opportunity to get the team into the right frame of mind by winning, for the established players to get match practice and for the fringe play".

"Bad habits form very easily and the concentration hasn't been there at all times," he added. "We've had batsmen getting out when well set and bowlers not sticking to the plan and it's carried over into the Tests."

It is pertinent that the West Indies, also 2-0 behind in the 1996-97 series in Australia, pulled one back by winning the Third Test in Melbourne after a six-wicket victory over Victoria in the preceding match.

Confronted by eleven ambitious players with points to prove, the West Indies should find the South Africa "A" team tough preparation for the Test.

It is just the challenge they require. If they aren't better than they have been so far they will be embarrassed yet again and their resolve, already fragile, will be further eroded.

Nic Pothas, the Gauteng wicket-keeper who scored two hundreds against West Indies "A" on their tour here last season, captains the South African hopefuls, among them four non-whites. According to chairman of selectors Peter Pollock, all have been chosen on merit.

They are the batsman Ashwell Prince, allrounder Shafiek Abrahams, left-arm spinner Paul Adams and fast bowler Makhaya Ntini. Adams and Ntini have both played Tests and Adams has remained in the 12 for the current series without making the final XI.

Another non-white, the promising 18-year-old fast bowler Victor Mpitsang, is 12th man.

Amid the current heated, sometimes bitter, debate over the racial composition of the South African Test team, their presence is an encouraging pointer for the future.

The inclusion of Lance Klusener is likely to be more pertinent in the short-term. Klusener is a powerful left-handed batsman who averages 28.65 and a brisk right-arm swing bowler with 42 wickets in his 16 Tests.

An ankle injury that needed surgery had put him out of contention in the current series and, if there appears no position for him at present, he is a notable reserve and an ideal player for the seven One-day Internationals that follow the Tests.

South Africa "A": Nic Pothas (Capt/wicketkeeper), Sven Koenig, Boeta Dippenaar, Martin van Jaarsveld, Ashwell Prince (batsmen), Justin Kemp, Lance Klusener (allrounders), Shafiek Abrahams (off-spin bowler), Paul Adams (left-arm spin bowler), Makhaya Ntini (fast bowler). 12th man: Victor Mptisang (fast bowler).

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