Sir Gary heeds call from Lara, WI get a lift (9 December 1998)

9 December 1998

Sir Gary heeds call from Lara, WI get a lift

By Tony Cozier in Port Elizabeth

True to his word, Sir Gary Sobers yesterday heeded a call from Brian Lara to pass a critical eye over the West Indies team's net practice two days before tomorrow's Second Test against South Africa.

Sobers, in Port Elizabeth as part of his promotional swing through South Africa on behalf of the Barbados government's sports tourism programme, spent the morning observing the session at St George's Park, venue for the Test.

"Brian had asked me if I could have a look at his own batting and also the other players as a whole after the First Test in Johannesburg and I told him I'd be happy to help in whatever way I could," Sobers said. "This was the first opportunity since then and it was a pleasure to be able to look, listen and talk to some of the boys during the session."

It was not a hands-on session for Sobers who observed from a distance. He spoke with Philo Wallace, Floyd Reifer and then Lara after they had batted. As he was leaving, Carl Hooper, who was involved in a lengthy batting session, asked whether he had noted anything that needed comment.

Sobers is a living legend whose outstanding record as the finest allrounder of all time and reputation as an expert analyst is obviously respected by the modern player. He has been close to Lara since he was a boy and shares more than simply their brilliant left-handed batting and their involvement in world records. Later in the afternoon, they were on the golf course together, playing another of their favourite sports.

"It was good that Sir Gary was there," said manager Clive Lloyd, who had made his Test debut under his captaincy in India in 1966. "He is very highly regarded in the team and his very presence gives the guys a lift."

Overall, practice was low-key with none of the fast bowlers extending themselves. Only Hooper, who has not played since straining a groin muscle in the First Test, put in extra work, staying on when his teammates had left for an extra half-hour's batting against the bowling machine.

Franklyn Rose, who was sidelined during the match against Border in East London last weekend with a sore heel, reported sufficient improvement to be able to bowl off a full run.

Lloyd said Rose would only be sent to a doctor for further diagnosis if the pain recurs. But he is unlikely to be considered for selection. He described the practice pitches as "somewhat slow" and not what was expected for the Test.

"We've had a look at the pitch and will have another look again before deciding the balance of the team," he said. "At the moment, it looks as if it'll be hard and pretty good for batting."

The last two Tests at St George's have both been low-scoring with no total over 300 and four of 108 by Australia and 168 by South Africa in 1996-97 when Australia won by two wickets and 106 and 134 by Pakistan last season when South African levelled the three-match series with victory by 259 runs. But head groundsman Andrew McLean pleaded that conditions in each of those Tests were influenced by unseasonal wet weather.

Although there has been rain in the past couple of weeks as well, it was sunny and dry yesterday with an encouraging forecast for the next week and McLean was confident of what he called "a good cricket wicket".

"At this stage, we're happy with our preparation," he said. "We're looking to prepare a pitch which has a little bit of life on the first day and that means maintaining a little bit of moisture. Then it should be best for batting on the second and third days with spin perhaps having a say towards the end."

It's the kind of predictions groundsmen everywhere make prior to a Test match. Only rarely are they proved correct.

Lloyd and his fellow tour selectors have two basic decisions to make-whether to revert to the old standard of four fast bowlers, supported by Hooper's off-spin, and whether to retain Stuart Williams at No.6, a position to which he is unaccustomed.

Merv Dillon would be the choice if Rawl Lewis goes and not simply by default. It might not be a flattering recommendation, but he was the best of the unimpressive bowlers against Border.

Williams is likely to get yet another chance to convert his potential into something more worthwhile that pretty 20s and 30s as neither Floyd Reifer nor Daren Ganga made a conclusive representation when they had the chance against Border.

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