West Indies look to God (24 December 1998)

24 December 1998

West Indies look to God

By Tony Cozier from Durban

Philo Wallace finally got the doctor's okay yesterday, declaring him fit to play in the critical Third Test against South Africa starting here on Boxing Day.

"The doctor has declared Philo fully recovered from his bout of glandular fever so he'll be available for selection," Lloyd said. "That's very good news for us as it's going to be the first time for the series that we've all 16 players to choose from."

Wallace was stricken on the first morning of the Second Test, forcing him to withdraw from the team at the last minute. He has been practising daily, has got over the problems with his vision that were the after-effects of his medication and, in the present desperate situation, is certain to take his place as one of the openers.

What the order will be after him is less certain.

The other two specialist openers, Clayton Lambert and Stuart Williams, have struggled for runs. The No.3 position is not settled now that captain Brian Lara has declared his intentions to move lower down the order. And neither Floyd Reifer nor Daren Ganga looks ready to take on the job at No.6 in such a high-pressure match against quality bowling and confident opponents who are within one victory of sealing a first historic series win.

The permutations are numerous and unsettling for a team already unsettled by the players' pre-tour standoff with the Board, a catalog of injuries and their own reckless performances.

The strokes that brought about three of Lambert's four dismissals in the previous Tests would have elicited a long prison sentence in less tolerant countries but, if only by default, he may well be retained.

So too Williams, who would go either at No. 3 or No. 6. For all his technical flaws, glaringly exposed in the recent match against South Africa "A", he has scored only eight runs fewer than Carl Hooper, two less than Shivnarine Chanderpaul and significantly more than Lara in the two Tests. There is also his slip-catching and all-round fielding to be considered in a side that needs all the sure hands and fast legs it can get.

The tour selectors are seemingly split on whether Chanderpaul or Hooper should bat one down.

Two seasons ago, in a similar situation induced by Lara's problems against Glenn McGrath, Chanderpaul was moved up with some success. It was at No. 3 that the determined left-hander scored his maiden Test hundred against India in Barbados in 1997 and where he batted in the recent Wills International Cup One-day tournament in Bangladesh.

Hooper has had no previous experience there but came in one down against South Africa "A". As he was captain, it was a clear signal that he was ready to accept the responsibility.

In the end, the not illogical solution would seem a compromise of Williams at No.3 with Chanderpaul, Lara and Hooper.

Junior Murray presents another option, purely as a batsman. He is in form, bold and aggressive and not one to be overawed by any situation. If the prospect of his batting anywhere above No.7 in a West Indies order is enough to dampen the Christmas spirit of those who remember the great West Indies batting sides of times past, it is indicative of the current state of our cricket.

The composition of the bowling is equally undecided.

South Africa has gone into the last two Tests at Kingsmead heavily loaded with fast bowlers, not a single spinner in sight. The West Indies, never shy to plump for four-pronged pace, are virtually certain to follow suit, especially since the weather over the past couple of days has been wet.

Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusener and Brian McMillan routed India for 100 and 66 in a three-day victory by 328 runs two seasons ago and Donald, Pollock, Klusener and Fanie deVilliers were the wicket-takers when they were beaten by Pakistan last year in a match in which the highest total was 259.

This was the home base of coach Malcolm Marshall in his three seasons with Natal prior to his current assignment and, on that basis, his opinion is likely to weigh heavily in deliberations.

He has so far been let down by his younger charges who have failed to provide proper support for Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh to the extent that Lara, with the limited runs at his disposal, has not been able to trust them.

Nixon McLean is the least consistent but he does provide extra pace and hostility and, though he tends to be expensive, is a wicket-taker. Merv Dillon and Franklyn Rose have both bowled with improved control in the last couple of matches-as, indeed, has McLean-but against South Africa "A" Hooper's sparing use of Dillon who was asked to send down a single nine-over spell suggests that they will move towards Rose's swing rather than his seam.

Manager Lloyd gave the players the day off yesterday "to relax, do some Christmas shopping and get their minds off the cricket for a while".

"They've been either playing or practising every day since the Second Test and I felt they just needed a break," Lloyd said. "We'll have a full, concentrated session tomorrow. On Christmas Day, most of us will attend church, I suppose you could say, seeking some divine intervention, and then have the traditional Christmas dinner we have whenever we are away at this time."

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