By Tony Becca, Senior Sport Editor
Hall
WEST INDIES Board president Wes Hall yesterday described fast bowler Jermaine Lawson as a special breed and one who West Indies cricket must protect.
According to Hall, himself a former West Indies fast bowler, Lawson is a special breed, he is fast and good, the West Indies need him, and the Board will do everything in its power to correct whatever is wrong with his bowling action.
"The ICC has given us six weeks to deal with the problem, we have asked for the six weeks to start after the rehabilitation period when he is pain-free and can bowl flat out. The ICC has agreed, and we appreciate that.
"People have said a lot of things, and people are pointing fingers. We are not into the finger pointing, however. All we ask is for consistency, we also want this thing of throwing to be cleared up. Lawson has been reported, and we are going to ensure that he is clean. We have photographs of him, Roberts will be working with him, he will be bowling and bowling, we will take photographs of him, Roberts will say when everything is fine, and we will then inform the ICC."
Halls is confident that by the first Test against Sri Lanka in mid-June, Lawson will be ready and there will be no doubt whatsoever about him. "Even if something is wrong now, he will be clean as a whistle by then. We will see to that."
LAWSON IS THE FUTURE
According to Hall, the Board and Roberts will see to that because Lawson is the future of West Indies cricket.
Two years ago when he took over as president of the Board, Hall uttered these words in response to those who lamented the weakness of the West Indies team. "Any day we can find two bowlers who can bowl at 90 miles an hour, no team will beat us."
Yesterday while talking about the importance of Lawson to West Indies cricket he said, "We have one genuine fast bowler and we have to look after him, we have to support him. In fact, we have two. Powell, Daren Powell, is the other."
