‘Tadpole’ impresses in S/Africa net session

Trinidad and Tobago left arm un-orthodox spinner Dave “Tadpole” Mohammed has impressed West Indies cricket coach Gus Logie and captain Brian Lara at net practice yesterday ahead of the first Test against South Africa starting on Friday in Johannesburg.

The talented player telephoned mentor and national team manager Omar Khan yesterday to inform him that he did very well at his first session with the West Indies team. “Taddy phoned me and said that everything was okay with him and that he really had a good workout with the West Indies team. He said that both coach Gus Logie and captain Brian Lara was happy with his performance and he is very confident of making his Test debut,” said Khan. “He is the only specialist spinner on the team and it very likely that they would go with him for the opening Test as a surprise package. Taddy has had a hard life and now the time seems right for this talented cricketer to put things right and move forward. “He is a very good cricketer and one who I think would do very well for the West Indies team at both the Test and one-day level. In addition to his bowling he is an excellent fielder and a more than capable batsman down the order,” said Khan.

Mohammed was called into the West Indies team as a replacement for injured fast bowler Jerome Taylor. Soon after specialist spinner Omari Banks was then ruled out with a back injury and replaced by all-rounder Ryan Hinds. This left Mohammed as the only specialist spinner in the squad and the South Africans may find him a handful in the upcoming series if he fulfils the expectations of his loyal fans back home.