Wallace better but needs rest (15 December 1998)

15 December 1998

Wallace better but needs rest

By Tony Cozier

PORT ELIZABETH - Philo Wallace's fever dropped and his spirits rose yesterday.

But the big opening batsman, diagnosed with the glandular fever that kept him out of the second Test last week, acknowledged he was still weak.

"The fever has dropped considerably from a constant 40 degrees (celsius) over the past three days and I'm feeling a lot better," he said from his Durban hotel after the team took an earlier flight than scheduled from Port Elizabeth.

"There's still a bit of fever and I can still feel some swelling in the glands," he added. "The doctor has advised lots of rest and not to rush into anything too quickly, even if I get to feel stronger."

Wallace explained that would increase the chance of a relapse "that would put me out for up to six weeks and I sure don't want that."

He said he would "see how it goes" over the next few days and, if given doctor's clearance, would hope to be able to play in the four-day match against South Africa 'A' in Pietermaritzburg, starting Saturday.

Manager Clive Lloyd said more tests would be carried out on Wallace to determine the extent of his illness. But there was no consideration yet of sending him home.

Wallace is the latest casualty on the ill-starred tour.

Already, left-handed all-rounder Jimmy Adams, with severed tendons in his right hand, and leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine, with a shoulder injury, have had their tours aborted and returned to the Caribbean. They were replaced by Floyd Reifer and Rawl Lewis from the "A" team in India.

In addition, Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose have both been sidelined for a week by contrasting complaints; Walsh with a strained groin muscle, Ambrose with a toenail that had to be removed.

Wicket-keeper Junior Murray and fast bowler Merv Dillon were hospitalised with food-poisoning during the first Test in Johannesburg.

Recalling how his attack came on, Wallace said he woke up with a headache last Thursday, the first morning of the Test.

"At first, I thought it might be from the blow in Border," he said, referring to a knock on the helmet while fielding at short-leg in the preceding match in East London.

"Then I started to perspire and, very quickly, the fever came on and I started to shiver. The doctor gave me an injection and told me right away I couldn't play in the Test."

"For the next three days, everywhere on my body was in pain when I turned over, especially my lower back, and I got really worried when I passed blood in my urine," he added. "That's never happened to me before."

He explained that blood tests were carried out and the problem was diagnosed as glandular fever.

"The doctor put me on medication and has told me to rest as much as possible," he said. "I've been sleeping a lot and the discomfort in the lower back has gone."

But he had not eaten for three days, existing on water and Energade, a vitamin drink.

"I ate for the first time today," he said. "Even then I found I didn't have much appetite and there was no taste to the food."

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)