Serious business for Australians (20 March 1999)

20 March 1999

Serious business for Australians

Tony Cozier

A week ago, Australias match against another collection of West Indian reserves, the A team, was no more than a leisurely interlude for them and another showcase for the promising young players of the Caribbean.

Suddenly, the match which starts at the Antigua Recreation Ground today, has become altogether more serious business.

Australias stunning defeat in the second Test has brought them back to earth with a bump that has woken them up to deficiencies masked by their equally stunning victory in the first Test.

For several West Indies players, the match is a virtual trial of fitness and form.

For both, individual performances are likely to dictate who they pick for the critical third Test, starting at Kensington Oval next Friday.

Australias concerns surround mainly, but not only, their champion leg-spinner Shane Warne.

West Indian interest lies principally, but not solely, in the physical and mental readiness of the vital all-rounder, Carl Hooper, who captains the A team.

Hooper, seasoned campaigner of 78 Tests, has been in Australia with his wife and seriously ill infant son since the South African tour ended February 8.

He has played no cricket in the interim and only flew into Antigua yesterday afternoon, a day after he was due, following flight delays.

He is bound to return for next weeks Test, so a lengthy innings and a meaningful bowl would be welcome.

Opener Stuart Williams gets yet another chance to resurrect his dismal Test career, while fast bowler Franklyn Rose plays his first match since recovering from the shoulder injury that ended his tour of South Africa immediately after his seven-wicket return in the first innings of the third Test.

For the Australians, Warnes ineffectiveness is not so much a headache as a migraine.

Test crickets most prolific spin bowler, with 316 wickets in 70 Tests, only returned to the game last December after a major shoulder operation.

He has taken only one wicket in 44 overs in the two Tests and even his mentor, Terry Jenner, an Australian leg-spinner of an earlier era, has acknowledged that he is struggling.

Jenner is on his way to the Caribbean with one of the tour groups coming for the last two Tests but he wont arrive in time for this weekend.

That is when the Australians will have to decide whether both Warne and his new leg-spin partner, Stuart MacGill, play in the third Test as they did in the first two or, if only one, which one.

Warne feigned unconcern in Antigua yesterday.

I think Im bowling really well, he said. I created a few little half-chances in the last game but it just wasnt to be.

Im sure I'll catch up with TJ (Jenner) and hell say, Be patient, dont try too hard, which is what I might have been doing.

Australia: Steve Waugh (Capt), Michael Slater, Matthew Elliot, Justin Langer, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Greg Blewett, Ian Healy, Shane Warne, Colin Miller, Stuart MacGill and Andy Bichel.

WI "A" Team: Carl Hooper (Capt), Stuart Williams, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ricardo Powell, Reynold McLean, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Matthew Sinclair, Franklyn Rose, Nixon McLean, Dwight Mais, Anthony Lake, Neil McGarrell.

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