Lloyd on 'extra' alert after chilling exposure (23 May 1999)

23 May 1999

Lloyd on 'extra' alert after chilling exposure

James Mossop

There may be signs of a thaw on West Indian faces at Southampton tomorrow as cricket's Sunshine Boys recover from a day the Irish borrowed from a bleak, mid-winter.

The chilling exposure in the unlikely setting of Clontarf Cricket Club where the equally deep-frozen Bangladeshis were defeated, was not entirely of a meteorological variety.

That item called 'extras' had manager Clive Lloyd squirming in his woollen blanket and captain Brian Lara was equally het-up despite five layers of clothing. If the Windies repeat Friday's 25 wides and five no-balls against the buoyant Kiwis, such extras will be presents on a platter.

The West Indians are the curiosity team of this World Cup. Their historic visit to the Dublin suburbs where a sell-out crowd of 3,500 jammed in for a peek was just an aside.

For years they turned fast-bowling into legalised mayhem while humming a calypso. Their batsmen seemed born to attack. They won the first two World Cups, rolled over a succession of Test series and the earth quaked.

Not any more. The current fad is to say they have the batting genius of Brian Lara and the fading might of two seriously damaging bowlers, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, plus some others. Carl Hooper, previously a match-winning all-rounder, has recently retired. Ambrose, 36, is troubled by injury and 'extras' is an intense worry.

A watery sun was already on its way to setting, the flags were still stretching away from their poles and a tuba oom-phad outside the West Indian dressing room in a quaint Irish setting as Lara and Lloyd addressed the main problem.

"We are suffering from the same amount of extras which cost us the game against Pakistan," said the captain. "We have got to improve in that area of the game to give ourselves a chance. It is important that these mistakes are eradicated. We will be working very hard at that."

Lloyd, still muffled despite the sanctuary within, added: "Maybe some sunshine will help but we cannot afford to give away so many extras against the big teams."

With defeat by Pakistan and the seven wicket win over Bangladesh, another victory over New Zealand is a requirement if they are to enjoy the Super Sixes phase of the tournament. That may mean something outstanding from Lara who returned to majestic form in the Test series against Australia, especially with his 213 at Sabina Park. His first big score this time round has yet to come but the silky, wristy timing was clear in his cameo 25 against Bangladesh.

The man himself says: "I feel that perhaps I could spend more time in the middle but I feel good. The team is getting together, especially with the batting. The bowlers are always going to deliver though there are some areas we have to check out.

"We need to get a few more wickets in the middle overs. Bowlers like Phil Simmons and Henderson Bryan need to be chipping in more. As the tournament progresses we have things to improve on. I prefer to be that way than being over-confident by the time the first stage is over.

"New Zealand are on a high after beating Australia and there is no doubt they are playing good cricket but our guys know what is required and this is the most important match so far."

The Windies hope to have Ambrose back tomorrow as well as slow left armer Keith Arthurton. They have considered fielding all five pace bowlers, Walsh, Ambrose, Bryan, Mervyn Dillon and Reon King but the inexperience of the last three on English pitches is a worry.

Lloyd believes that the unusual amount of swing at this time of the year is the reason why they have been delivering so many wides. The old, amiable skipper whose towering sixes live in the memory of those Lancastrians brought up during his days at Old Trafford, can be a touch defensive when it comes to arguing the Caribbean case.

He said: "We go in against New Zealand on a winning note. We are aware that they are a bit of a handful. But I know our players are going to start peaking now. A lot of people think Brian Lara is the only player we have. I hope we don't have to depend on him all the time."

Success in the World Cup will keep Lara on the pedestal, of course, but there is no doubt of the transition taking place in West Indian cricket as his old, reliable bowlers face the inevitable retreat into retirement.

First requirement, though, is some Southampton sun on their backs so that they can enjoy what is billed as the Carnival of Cricket. At Clontarf that sounded like the original Irish joke.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)