Woolmer not interested in Lloyd's job (28 December 1998)

28 December 1998

Woolmer not interested in Lloyd's job

Trevor Chesterfield

DURBAN (South Africa) - Bob Woolmer for David Lloyd? Not on your last slice of Christmas pudding.

At least that is the way Woolmer, the South African coach sees it, although he will have to look at his options at the end of June when his contract with the United Cricket Board is up for renewal.

Asked if he had thought about taking over from Lloyd, who has indicated he would like to quit as England's coach at the end of the World Cup, which is being held in England next year, Woolmer dismissed the idea.

"I'll have to carefully view my options," he said. "But no ... I don't think so," he said.

"I want to remain in cricket, in some form or other, my heart is now basically in South Africa, but I will have to look at all options on June 20 and that's what I will be doing," Woolmer added.

Which is one way of leaving the channel open should the England option come up and the South African one not; although there is a strong body of opinion which suggests that Woolmer, now into his fifth year, could be retained by the UCB.

What was of interest yesterday, the first day of the Test at Kingsmead, was the announcement that the West Indies and South African management had agreed to switching on the floodlights. Initially this arrangement was not part of the playing conditions.

Cassim Docrat, CEO of KwaZulu/Natal Cricket Union, confirmed yesterday that note 3.3 of the West Indies tour playing conditions had been altered and that the experiment would be worked into the playing conditions with the changing of the wording from "shall not apply" to "shall apply".

There has been criticism in Australia by Mark Taylor and Alec Stewart of the decision not to apply the experiment during the Ashes series now in progress.

One entertaining aspect of the game yesterday was teenager Darren Ganga's Test debut and his efforts to keep the West Indies first innings of 198 moving during a partnership of 45 with Ridley Jacobs.

It was possibly inexperience but with Brian Lara gone Ganga seemed uncertain whether to play the playmaker role or not and found himself caught in two minds. He did much to nurse the Windies first innings along until on reaching 28 he drove at ball from Shaun pollock and it was this dismissal which precipitated the lower-order collapse.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News