Windies have Super Six in sight (30 May 1999)

30 May 1999

Windies have Super Six in sight

The Barbadas Nation

Manchester, England - For once the pressure is not on the West Indies.

They play pre-tournament favourites Australia today in a World Cup match that will determine which teams join Pakistan from Group B in the next round - the Super Six.

After their patchy performance so far, Australia called in a sports psychologist yesterday to boost their preparation for their "must win" match.

Victory for the West Indies in their final group fixture will earn them a place in the Super Six as runners-up to Pakistan. A narrow defeat could also see them scrape in as one of the top three teams, but that scenario would also be dependent on how New Zealand fare against Scotland in their last match tomorrow.

West Indies received some unwelcome news yesterday as key batsman Shivnarine missed the team's final practice session at Old Trafford because of a high temperature.

Manager Clive Lloyd explained that the Guyanese left-handed batsman had apparently come down with a viral illness but suggested that team management would wait until the morning of the match to make a final determination of his availability.

His absence could create a headache for the selectors with the two alternatives - Keith Arthurton and Ricardo Powell - not having played since the opening loss to Pakistan two weeks earlier in Bristol.

But captain Brian Lara remains confident that his bowlers can once again put his team in a winning position.

"We'll have to wait and see what the conditions will be like on the morning of the match, but it would be nice if we can bat second again and let the bowlers make the most of the early assistance," said the West Indies captain after his team's workout at the match venue.

"They have made the job easier for the batsmen in the last three matches and apart from the situation with Shiv, the only consideration for us would be whether to choose either Mervyn Dillon or Hendy Brian to complete the four-man pace attack."

Australian captain Steve Waugh said psychologist Sandy Gordon had spoken to half the team already and would be meeting the others yesterday after a practice session at Old Trafford.

"I'm all for it. It gives you the chance to have someone to talk to outside the game. It helps on any overseas tour. It can be homesickness or anything," said Waugh.

Waugh and Australia are under heavy pressure at Old Trafford, knowing that defeat will mean elimination from the World Cup for the 1987 winners. It would also call into question Waugh's position as captain.

With Pakistan already advancing, West Indies have six points while Australia and New Zealand have four. All of them have one game to play, with New Zealand expected to beat Scotland.

"If we beat West Indies, then New Zealand are going to be hard pressed to get in front of us. We know the equation. We'll be on the plane home if we don't win," Waugh told reporters.

West Indies have a net run rate of plus 0.88. Australia's is plus 0.77 and New Zealand's is exactly zero.

The Australian captain indicated his batsmen would be simply trying to survive against the experienced Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, while attempting to punish inexperienced change bowlers Mervyn Dillon and Reon King.

"We will be looking to beat the West Indies, but it may be asking a bit too much to beat them convincingly," Waugh said.

Australia: Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Tom Moody, Michael Bevan, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming, Adam Dale and Glenn McGrath.

West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sherwin Campbell, Stuart Williams, Phil Simmons, Curtly Ambrose, Jimmy Adams, Mervyn Dillon or Henry Bryan, Courtney Walsh and Reon King.

Umpires: Steve Dunne (New Zealand) and K.T.Francis (Sri Lanka). Television umpire: David Constant (England).

Match referee: John Reid (New Zealand).

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