West Indies: Spinners Could Play Key Role (13 October 1998)

13 October 1998

West Indies: Spinners Could Play Key Role

The Barbados Nation

Two former Test players, one from each side, have picked a spinner among their six key men for the forthcoming five-Test series between South Africa and the West Indies in South Africa.

In a feature in the latest edition of the Red Stripe Caribbean Cricket Quarterly magazine, Barry Richards, the great South African opening batsman of the 1970s, identifies unorthodox left-armer Paul Adams as a possible "trump card" for South Africa.

David Holford, the former West Indies all-rounder, team manager and chief selector, chooses leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine among his crucial half-dozen for the West Indies.

"South Africa are aware of the West Indian fallibility against spin, especially the back-of-the-hand variety, and he (Adams) may, in the end, prove a trump card," Richards writes.

Richards points out that Adams is "still finding his feet" but can spin the ball prodigiously, especially away from the right-handers.

But he pleads for more innovative use and supportive field placings from captain Hansie Cronje so that Adams can attack more.

"In England, he was often used in a defensive role, bowling over the wicket to ensure a meagre run rate and give the quicks a rest. If he attacks, he might just be the match-winning spinner South Africa are looking for," Richards says.

Holford says Ramnarine's role, along with off-spinner Carl Hooper, would be to get wickets in the middle to ensure that the fast bowlers, in their come-back spells, don't find themselves bowling at the same batsmen who were in when they were rested.

He is high is praise of the Trinidad and Tobago leg-spinner.

"Growing in confidence all the while, Ramnarine showed on debut against England that he can handle the pressure at Test level," Holford writes.

"He has good control, in that he doesn't bowl too many bad balls, has a good attitude in that he seeks and listens to advice and is learning all the time."

Richards' other chosen South Africa five are Cronje, left-handed opener Gary Kirsten, batsman Jacques Kallis and fast bowlers Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock.

Holford's other key West Indians are captain Brian Lara, all-rounder Hooper, fast bowlers Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh and "the wicket-keeper", whether Junior Murray or Ridley Jacobs.

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