By Tony Becca, Contributing EditorTHE WEST Indies next opponents will be Zimbabwe, after that they take on South Africa.
Following their victory over Sri Lanka last time out that will be the test, and there are many who believe that they will pass it with flying colours.
Andy Roberts does not believe so, however. According to the great fast bowler of yesterday even if the batting comes good, the bowling could be a problem.
For the West Indies to defeat South Africa a lot will depend on their fast bowlers, on the likes of Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor, Vasbert Drakes and possibly Jermaine Lawson, and Roberts' fear is that the bowlers are not ready for such a task.
WORRIED
"Our batsmen are good on flat pitches, but once the ball is doing something seaming around or swinging, I am a little worried about them," said Roberts. "As far as the bowling is concerned, however, I am not a little worried - I am very worried."
According to Roberts, despite their talent the bowlers lack quality and experience, and it is simply because the selectors have not demonstrated enough confidence in them, have not stuck with them certainly not when compared to the batsmen.
"Over the past four or five years the selectors have not given the bowlers enough time to settle, and bowlers take more time to mature, to develop their skill, than batsmen do.
STRUGGLE AT FIRST
"If you look at our history, the bowlers who come in and produce immediately never seem to last. The ones who seem to last are those, like Wes (Wes Hall), Mickey (Michael Holding), and Malcolm (Marshall) who struggle at first and who then have to work harder. But for one or two, but for one like Colin Croft, the ones with instant success, like Franklyn (Rose) always seem to fall away, and the selectors need to show a little more faith in the
bowlers who they selected because they believed they were either the best or had great potential.
"When I look at the bowlers we have now, I would dearly like to see them perform in South Africa, but I am not too optimistic. There are all inexperienced bowlers, there is no one there for them to emulate, no one to guide them, and that is important for development.
"When you look at them, I also do not think they are physically strong enough for the demands of Test cricket, and we just have to hope that they will come good. That is all we can do."
Is there a fast bowler in the Caribbean who has the ability to do well against a team like South Africa?
"Yes, definitely yes. Daren Powell should be playing Test cricket right now," said Roberts who was dropped after his first Test match.
ABILITY AND POTENTIAL
"Powell has the ability and the potential to bowl fast. He has not been successful in the few matches he has played, but again that is not surprising. Our great fast bowlers, the majority of them, did not have instant success. On the Asian tour, Powell bowled very well. In terms of taking wickets, he did not have the success that Jermaine Lawson or Vasbert Drakes had, but he bowled very well.
"The problem is that when he came home he did not have a good season in the Carib Beer tournament, and because of that he was not selected.
"That was disappointing. Powell has the potential to develop into a good fast bowler, and that is what the selectors should be looking for. He is stronger than the ones we have now, and all he needs is someone to encourage him.
BATSMEN DEVELOP QUICKER
"We are not encouraging our fast bowlers - certainly not the way we encourage our batsmen. If you look over years you will see the number of Test matches batsmen have been given to establish themselves. Although batsmen develop quicker than bowlers, it is twice, or more than twice, the number of matches given to bowlers to establish themselves.
"The more matches bowlers play, the more experience they gain and the better they develop. I am sure that if the selectors had given Powell a good run when he was selected the first time, the West Indies would now have a top class fast bowler."
