Rampaul back in WI groove

HARARE: Down 1-2 and facing the prospect of defeat, West Indies were dealt a cruel blow ahead of the crucial fourth one-day international against Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club today with the news that all-rounder Vasbert Drakes is unavailable.

In the previous ODI, Drakes further aggravated a bruised intercostal muscle and has been ruled out from not only today’s match, but yesterday’s too. “Playing this weekend would only jeopardise Vassie’s fitness for the start of the South African tour next week,” West Indies manager Ricky Skerritt told CMC Sports. “As much as he will be missed this weekend, it is more crucial that Vasbert begins his recovery now,” Skerritt added. West Indies has named Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards among 12 players from which the final 11 will be picked, further compromising the fragile batting that miserably let them down in the last two ODIs.Although he has not always shown it, Drakes is more than handy with the bat. He is no batting bunny and with him coming at nine behind the seven specialist batsmen and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs, it gives some depth to the West Indies batting. With him being unavailable, it means that the buck will stop with Jacobs, since Mervyn Dillon is Mervyn Dillon, and Corey Collymore and Edwards or Rampaul have little pedigree with the bat.

Captain Brian Lara asserted after Wednesday’s 21-run loss that he was still gunning for a series win, but he and the rest of the batsmen will have to put greater value on their wicket if they are to deny the home team from taking an unassailable lead in the series today. Sadly, West Indies has no other batting options on tour, except maybe to consider either Daren Ganga or Omari Banks. The two are still with the team in Zimbabwe, but are not part of the official one-day squad and, therefore, are not eligible for selection. Choosing either could elongate the batting. Banks in particular would also add another dimension to the attack with his off-spin. The West Indies captain, however, will have to get it through the “thick skulls” of his fellow batsmen that occupation of the crease is vital and the haphazard way of throwing their wickets away is unacceptable.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe stand on the verge of a surprise series win after coming from behind to take the lead in the series. They have opted to make one change by bringing in Barney Rogers at the expense of opening batsman Trevor Gripper. Rogers normally bats in the middle order, but Zimbabwe too, are looking to firm up their batting to ensure they clinch their first one-day series win against a team other than Kenya and Bangladesh, since their 2-1 victory in New Zealand almost three years ago.

Teams: 
ZIMBABWE: Heath Streak (capt), Tatenda Taibu (v/capt), Vusimuzi Sibanda, Barney Rogers, Mark Vermeulen, Craig Wishart, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Andy Blignaut, Sean Ervine, Ray Price, Gary Brent.
WEST INDIES (from): Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan (v/capt), Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Ravi Rampaul, Mervyn Dillon, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards.
UMPIRES: Asoka de Silva, Ian Robinson (TV Replays: Kevin Barbour).