Tino's best

TINO BEST hasn't become down-spirited as a result of a few dangerous, full-pitched deliveries in what has been an otherwise impressive performance in the 2003 Carib Beer Series.

The exciting Barbadian fast bowler's 23 wickets are the second highest and his average of 16.86 is the second best among bowlers with more than ten wickets in the competition.

His season has, however, been spoilt somewhat by two instances in which umpires have ordered that he be removed from the attack for delivering two deliveries over the level of the batsman's waist in quick succession.

"I consider myself a fighter. I know one or two people might be disappointed, but that is cricket, that is life," Best said yesterday ahead of Barbados' sixth-round match against the Leeward Islands, starting today at Kensington Oval.

"I think I have performed reasonably well for Barbados. Every time I have a bad day, I just think of good days and I get through it. I am just going to keep working hard."

During Barbados' third round match against Jamaica on February 16 at the North Stars Club ground in Crab Hill, St Lucy, Best was stopped from bowling for the remainder of the innings after sending down two over-pitched balls to Robert Samuels and Mario Ventura in consecutive overs.

The 21-year-old suffered a similar fate at Kensington Oval last weekend when two similar-type balls went to Trinidad and Tobago last man, Mukesh Persad.

He has, however, apologised to both teams for the unfortunate incidents.

"I was trying for too much pace. I was just trying to finish the innings as quickly as possible," Best said. "I was trying to bowl a yorker. People always tell me that with my pace, if I can get a yorker going, I would be devastating. The balls just slipped.

"I try hard. Any time I play for Barbados, I put in 180 per cent all the time, no matter what situation we are in. Sometimes you try too hard and things happen."

Best reckons it is a fault that can be easily corrected.

Hendy Wallace, a knowledgeable seasoned professional in Ireland who has been working with Barbados' fast bowlers in the nets in the last few days, is trying to help him overcome the problem.

"He was saying that when I am about to deliver the ball, my bowling arm was going away from my body and sometimes the ball comes out at the back of my hand. That is really horrible for a fast bowler," Best said.

"He is trying to get me come a bit straighter. I just hope that everything works out well for me."

Best comes through

Those incidents aside, Best has done everything captain Courtney Browne has asked of him this season.

He has consistently bowled at good pace, even on an Albion pitch in Berbice that hardly encourages fast bowlers.

"It all has to do with team work and captaincy. I think Courtney has bowled me beautifully," said Best, who has described Jamaican pacerJermaine Lawson as one of his biggest role models.

"I am just running in, putting my head down and trying to bowl as fast as possible. I'm just trying to carry out my captain's instructions."

Very often, Browne has used him for short bursts, something he appreciates very much.

"As a young fast bowler, just because you are quick, it does not mean you should bowl ten overs on the trot," Best said.

"Sometimes Courtney gives me three overs, then three, then four. Every time I come back, I am fresh and I am bowling quicker and quicker. It has really helped me to bowl better and not get too carried away."

Wherever Best has bowled, be it Kensington, Albion, North Stars or Sabina Park, he has had tongues wagging because if his raw pace. But for him, it is not a priority to generate excitement among spectators.

"I don't set out to please the crowd. I set out to please Barbados' cricket," he said.

Prior to the start of the season, he set himself a goal of 30 wickets. With the possibility of Barbados having another four matches, the confident youngster has revised the figure.

"If we do go to the finals, which would be a very good achievement, I think I'll be looking for about 45 to 50 wickets," he said.

"Given the way Courtney has bowled me, once I keep concentrating and putting the ball in the right area, I should get that quite easily."