West Indies camp in disarray (14 December 1998)

14 December 1998

West Indies camp in disarray

Tony Becca

PORT ELIZABETH - The West Indies, still smarting from Saturday's three-day defeat in the second Test against South Africa, ran into more trouble yesterday with the news that opening batsman Philo Wallace is suffering from glandular fever and may have to return home. There are also reports of a rift in the camp.

Wallace, who was selected in the team for the Test but was forced to pull out on the morning of the game due to what was then reported as flu, was diagnosed yesterday as suffering from the fever.

Wallace who was examined by Dr. Ali Bacher, managing director of the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA), was taken to the hospital where the diagnosis was confirmed and will be out of action for four to six weeks.

News out of the West Indies camp is that a replacement is being considered.

The tour, which is now being described as ill-fated, was preceded by a standoff between the players and the board and only came off after meeting in London involving the players, the board, and Dr. Bacher representing the UCBSA.

Since then the team has been hit by injuries and illnesses with the list reading James Adams out because of a cut finger, Dinanath Ramnarine out of because of a shoulder injury, Carl Hooper down with a groin strain, Junior Murray and Mervyn Dillon in hospital for stomach ailment, Franklyn Rose down with internal bleeding in his left heel, Stuart Williams down with the flu, and although it has not kept him from playing or performing, Curtly Ambrose with a slight groin strain.

On top of that, board president Pat Rousseau and his wife were robbed at gun point in Soweto on the eve of the first Test in Johannesburg.

Wallace's illness was not the only disturbing news coming out of the West Indies camp this morning. There appears to be a rift in the team, and apparently it is affecting the performance of the players.

"The problem (relating to the defeats in the first two Test matches) has nothing to do with cricket," said one player. "It is the way things are going. There is no team spirit. Some of the players and the captain are hardly on speaking terms."

The problem it appears, is a throwback from the standoff in London.

One of the demands in London was a new salary scale which would mean more money for players who have played a certain number of Test matches, nothing for the younger players and when they heard about it they were upset.

The word is that the younger players now believe that they were used by the senior players for their own interests.

The team had a two-hour meeting after the match on Saturday and it is understood that the problems came up for discussions. This morning the players were in the nets as they began preparation for the third Test starting in Durban on Boxing Day.

Source :: The Jamaica Gleaner (https://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/)