Windies must dig deep against S/Africa

JOHANNESBURG: West Indies will have to dig deep in the Test series against South Africa to make up for the absence of several players through injury, according to coach Gus Logie. “We’ve had to change a few players in our squad because of injuries,” Logie told Reuters before today’s start to the first of the four Tests. “That has been a setback, but it’s nothing we can’t overcome. In fact, it will give our players more impetus to know that they have to dig even deeper.” Fast bowler Jerome Taylor, all rounder Omari Banks and batsman Marlon Samuels have all suffered injuries. “You come here with a set plan, and you expect certain quality players to fit into the whole make-up of the squad,” Logie said. “Omari Banks was certainly a big part of that set-up, Jerome Taylor is a young, exciting prospect who we were looking forward to see bowling in South African conditions, and Marlon Samuels has been around and is experienced.

“We thought we had the right combination coming here, and it’s unfortunate that we have had to rethink that.” Left-arm wrist spinner replaced Taylor with uncapped Dwayne Smith coming in for Samuels. Fast bowler Adam Sanford has been called up to replace Banks. “The replacements will have to fit in, and the players who were here originally will have to take on more responsibility,” Logie said. The West Indies will be motivated by a desire to avenge their 5-0 thrashing in the Test series the last time they toured South Africa in 1998-99 - their first whitewash. “That is something we look forward to as professional sportsmen, playing to the best of our ability to gain not only the respect of the opposition but of your own people and of the sporting public,” Logie said. “If we do the right things, the results will take care of themselves.”

Captain Brian Lara is likely to be the West Indian scalp most prized by the South Africans, but Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored 245 in the drawn tour match against Free State to signal a timely return to form. Openers Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle both had a productive tour of Zimbabwe, but the attack appeared threadbare with inexperienced fast bowler Fidel Edwards the only consistent threat. The West Indies beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in the Test series, and rallied from 1-2 to claim the one-day series 3-2. “I’m not unduly worried about the bowling,” Logie said. “At our best we have been able to dismiss teams. It’s always going to be hard work, and I’m confident our attack will come good when it needs to. “South Africa are at home, they’ve always been aggressive and they’ll be coming at us all the time. We need to focus on what we can control.”

Meanwhile, West Indies named Daren Ganga in their final team for today’s game, and will go into the match with a battery of four fast bowlers. The home side will be without their most capped player and most prolific batsman, Gary Kirsten, who has opted to be with his wife for the expected birth of their first child this week. Martin van Jaarsveld is likely to fill in at number three. Teams: SOUTH AFRICA (from) - Graeme Smith (capt), Mark Boucher, Herschelle Gibbs, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph, Martin van Jaarsveld, Garnett Kruger. WEST INDIES: Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Daren Ganga, Brian Lara (capt),  Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ridley Jacobs, Vasbert Drakes, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Fidel Edwards.