Wonderful opportunity for WI's young batsmen

Tony Becca

THE West Indies are now tuning up for the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe, and somewhere along the line they must be wondering if the gods are against them.

After three successive defeats, one against England, one against Australia and one against South Africa, one 3-1, one 5-0, and one 2-1, the Windies were looking forward to victory against Zimbabwe. While they could still conquer, the number of injuries they have suffered since arriving in the African nation must have affected their confidence.

First it was top batsman Brian Lara, then it was rookie pacer Kerry Jeremy, and now top pacers Cameron Cuffy and Mervyn Dillon are also down and out.

On top of that, wicketkeeper/batsman Ridley Jacobs will miss the second Test due to suspension.

As brilliant as Lara can be, and as promising as Jeremy may be, the ones they are most likely to miss are Cuffy and Dillon for the simple reasons that Jeremy quite likely would not have gotten into the team and that their remaining batsmen are morely likely to succeed than their remaining bowlers.

None of Christopher Gayle, Darren Ganga, Leon Garrick, Wavell Hinds, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carl Hooper, Marlon Samuels or Ramnaresh Sarwan are likely to make Heath Streak, Andy Blignauth and company suffer through sleepness nights. Six of them together, however, should be good enough to post substantial totals. In fact, against an attack that is far from deadly and which will be operating on pitches that should be good for batting, it is a wonderful opportunity for the youngsters.

Without Cuffy and Dillon, however, with Reon King looking like a stranger to the bowler who played against Zimbabwe last year, the bowling looks weak. Apart from hoping that right-arm legspinner Dinanath Ramnarine can do the job, as the man who will be setting the field captain Hooper must be praying that his fast bowlers - King, Corey Collymore and Colin Stuart - bowl a good line and length.

Fortunately for the West Indies, they are coming off a good performance in the final of the tri-nation limited-over tournament and that must have lifted their spirit and should motivate them as they prepare for Zimbabwe.

Although Hooper kept saying that it could have happened, even though there were West Indian fans who were hoping that it would have happened, hardly anyone expected the West Indies to defeat India. They did defeat them, however, and lest it be forgotten, apart from the absence of Cuffy, they did so without Lara after dashing to 290 for six.

That was a wonderful performance, and special thanks to Ganga. Gayle, Hooper, batting at number four, and Chanderpaul all made worthwhile contributions, but it was Ganga who was the star - not because he topscored with 71, but because he demonstrated the class of which he hinted during the tour of South Africa.

After a history of pushing and blocking, timidly playing to the onside with the ball ending up on the offside, and a run of low scores, Ganga, batting like a man possessed, rose to the occasion and reeled off a series of exciting strokes.

It was a gem of an innings, and hopefully he has turned the corner. If he has, it would be good for West Indies cricket.

Technically correct as he is, Ganga in good form could pinch the other youngsters into action, and if that happens, if Gayle and Hinds, who are not technically as good but are so exciting, if Samuels and Sarwan who are so gifted, and if Garrick, who is so dominant on the go, react to the challenge, the West Indies batting would really be in good hands.

As the veteran among the batsmen, it may not bother Hooper, but an exciting, run-scoring Ganga could also awake Chanderpaul from his slumber and push him into fulfilling the promise of his early days.

Although King could recapture the form that made many him consider him the next in line a year ago, and even though Collymore, Stewart and Ramnarine could rise to the occasion, as far as their bowling is concerned, fate really seems to have dealt the West Indies a blow with the injuries to Cuffy and Dillon.

As far as the batting is concerned, however, and as great as he is, the absence of Lara may well be a blessing for the West Indies. It may be just the challenge that will motivate the young batsmen.

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