Hooper and PollockCOLOMBO, (Reuters):
WEST INDIES captain Carl Hooper is worried about the quality of his team's preparations for their opening ICC Champions Trophy match against South Africa in pool 3 this morning (JA time).
While Shaun Pollock's team played in the recent triangular series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Morocco, the West Indies players had to make do with a limited warm-up in their domestic one-day competition.
"I've been following the progress of the other teams and their preparation seems ideal," Hooper said yesterday.
"Our problem is that we are coming off a one-day tournament in the Caribbean, but forever and a day I've been saying our wickets are not conducive to good cricket.
"We were wanting to use that tournament as a build-up for this tournament but we sat in St. Lucia and the only chance for practice was when you were out in the middle - otherwise practice was just batting on concrete strips in the stadium.
"It was not ideal preparation and I'd have loved to be able to practice more. I wouldn't say we are underdone but I would say we could have prepared a little better," he added.
With lowly Kenya the other side in pool 3, Hooper knows that today's showdown with South Africa is shaping up as an effective quarter-final clash in the 12-team competition.
"It looks that way," he said. "The Kenyans are not to be underestimated and they have beaten us before in the World Cup, but you would have thought that whoever wins tomorrow stands a very good chance of going through to the next phase."
South Africa's recent record against the West Indies is impressive, having triumphed 5-2 in a one-day series in the Caribbean in early 2001.
"They are very disciplined, a good side and we know it won't be easy," said Hooper. "But on two occasions in the Caribbean we had convincing wins and that is what we will be looking at.
"If we've had one fault over the years, it's that we've not been consistent but, if we play good cricket, we are capable of beating them. We've just got to make sure we put it together."
The West Indies have arrived in Sri Lanka without pace bowler Cameron Cuffy and off-spinning all-rounder Marlon Samuels, both having been sidelined following knee surgery.
Cuffy's absence and a change in the eligibility rules for West Indies representation has allowed the return of all-rounder Vasbert Drakes, who last played international cricket seven years ago.
The 33-year-old Drakes has played first-class cricket for Border province in South Africa for much of that time, ruling him out of West Indies contention as the selectors are only allowed to chose players who play domestic cricket in the Caribbean.
But that regulation has been changed, permitting players to be picked for West Indies if they took part in the domestic tournament immediately before selection.
Drakes, who has been representing Barbados this season, was therefore back in the frame for selection.
"It's a big advantage to have Vasbert as he's an experienced cricket who adds depth to our batting line-up while his bowling speaks for itself," said Hooper.
"He's also had a lot of experience of cricket in South Africa, which means he will be able to contribute as we plan our strategy."
The West Indies players will wear black armbands during the match as a mark of respect for all-rounder Laurie Williams.
The 33 year-old, who played 15 one-day internationals, was killed in a car crash in Jamaica on Sunday.
