Tony Becca

THE SECOND Test of the current series between the West Indies and Pakistan opens on Sunday in dusty Multan and, based on their history, and especially so that they lost the first Test, it is almost a safe bet that the Windies will make at least one change.

As bad as the likes of Daren Ganga - run out in the second innings with his team facing a deficit of 279 runs and over two days to go in the Test match - Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo batted, even though pacer Fidel Edwards was far from impressive and although Bravo was also disappointing as the fourth pacer in the team, it is almost a safe bet that it will not be a batsman who is likely to be dropped nor will it be one of the fast bowlers.

Based on the luck, or the bad luck, of slow bowlers in West Indies cricket since the glory days of Lance Gibbs, based on what has gone on before, based on his own experiences, the man likely to be dropped, is Dave Mohammed - the left-arm wrist spinner whose four Test matches to date have spread over two years and over four different countries.

In 2004, Mohammed played in the third Test against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town, and against England in the third Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. In 2006, he played against India in the first Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John's, and in the first Test against Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

While Mohammed's figures have been nothing to shout about, he has always looked the part - except towards the end when the batting team is looking towards declaring their innings closed and are going for runs and, despite the abundance of fast bowlers around, he has been kept in the attack.

Looked good

Against South Africa, for example, he looked good while picking up three wickets before he went on to concede 112 off 33 overs. In the second innings when South Africa scored 335 for three declared, Mohammed bowled only six overs and conceded 30 runs.

Against England, although he bowled quite well, he conceded 77 runs off 26 overs for no wicket. In the second innings, he bowled only six overs and conceded 25 runs while England dashed to 231 for three and victory.

Against India, he took one wicket while conceding 24 runs in the first innings, and again he looked good in the second innings while taking three wickets before, like a lamb to the slaughter, he was kept in the attack while Mahendra Dhoni caned him as India hopped to 521 for six declared.

With the young fast bowlers resting, Mohammed moved from respectable figures to an almost embarrassing three for 162 off 29.5 overs.

On the evidence of that, plus the fact that his figures a few days ago were a moderate three for 98 off 31 overs, plus the feeling that the selectors believe there are different standards for fast bowlers and for spin bowlers, that they obviously believe that while a fast bowler can get away with taking one or two wickets in a match, a spin bowler cannot, Mohammed seems destined to be dropped once again.

Stop and think

Before they do that this time, however, they should stop and think. They should look at his economy rate of 3.80 runs an over, they should look at the impact of all their bowlers in the first Test, and if they do they will realise that Corey Collymore, Jerome Taylor and Mohammed were their best bowlers.

After coming on to bowl his first over at 132 for two after 42 overs, Mohammed removed Inzamam ul-Haq, Pakistan's best batsman, for zero at 140 for four, and but for umpire Asoka de Silva, who did not call on the third umpire for assistance and who made a terrible decision, Mohammed would have had Mohammad Yousuf, 192, stumped at 53 at 147 when he dragged the batsman out of his crease in the 52nd over, and when he came back to bowl again at 328 for six off 109 overs, he bowled right through to the end of Pakistan's innings.

Mohammed is a talented wrist spinner, if he is allowed to develop, a bowler like him can help take the West Indies back to the top and it is high time we give him some time to really sharpen his skills - to gain some experience and to strengthen his confidence.

Had Mohammed been given a run since his first appearance, he may not, at least not yet, have become an Anil Kumble, a Muttiah Muralitharan or a Shane Warne. By now, however, he may well have been as good as or better than Daniel Vettori and Monty Panesar - probably even a match for Pakistan's own Danish Kaneria.

On top of that, Mohammed is a good fielder, and with scores of 36 - seven fours, one six off 36 deliveries in 47 minutes, 23 in 42 minutes, 19 not out in 66 minutes and 52 with 10 fours off 55 deliveries, 35 in 96 minutes with five fours and one six, and 15 in 40 minutes, he is useful at number eight or number nine, and is more successful as a tailender than any of the West Indies fast bowlers.