West Indies: 2 fit 'old men'

Kingston - Satisfied that the two grand old men of West Indies fast bowling are durable enough to stand the rigours of five successive days of cricket, the West Indies selectors yesterday named Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh for the opening Test against Zimbabwe.

Fully aware that there is concern over their fitness, the selectors have identified replacements should the two be unable to take to the Queen's Park Oval on Thursday.

Walsh, the 37-year-old Jamaican who is into his 16th year of international cricket, has hardly bowled since sustaining a slight ankle injury in the Busta Cup final nearly two weeks ago, while Ambrose, 36, complained of some puffiness to his left knee three days ago.

'We think that the two aging fast bowlers have given yeoman service and are still bowling extremely well,' chief selector Mike Findlay said in announcing the fairly predictable 13-man squad.

'We still think they have a role to play in West Indies cricket,' he said during a Press conference from Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel which was televised throughout the region.

Team coach Roger Harper also dismissed the suggestion that both Ambrose and Walsh were 'obviously unfit'.

Findlay, however, added that contingency plans had been put in place.

'We have identified stand-bys in case anything goes wrong,' he said.

Ambrose and Walsh are among five bowlers in the squad, joining fellow pacers Reon King and Franklyn Rose and off-spinner Nehemiah Perry.

'The Queen's Park Oval pitch has a reputation to favour spin bowling, but the records have shown in recent years that fast bowlers have been the match-winners for the West Indies,' Findlay said.

The final XI is to be named on the eve of the match following two days of practice sessions in Trinidad tomorrow and Tuesday. A vice-captain is to be appointed on a match-by-match basis.

There are no newcomers to international cricket in the 13, but Jamaican batsmen Chris Gayle and Wavell Hinds are yet to appear at Test level.

The 20-year-old Gayle owes his selection to his heavy scoring in the Busta Cup in which he was the highest run-scorer, his 623 runs (ave. 56.63) earning him the Most Valuable Player Award.

The tall left-hander achieved his success as an opening batsman, but with the presence of Sherwin Campbell and Adrian Griffith, and going on the order of how the names were announced by Findlay, it appears certain that Gayle will fill the No. 3 slot.

Hinds and fellow Jamaican Ricardo Powell, both modest performers since returning from the ill-starred tour of New Zealand, are vying for the No. 6 position, which could also have gone to Nevisian Runako Morton on the strength of his hundred and three half-centuries in the Busta Cup. The only other selection that would have created debate was that of Perry, who has also done little since the New Zealand trip.

Many observers would have favoured the season's joint highest wicket-taker, Guyanese leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo.