Dillon aiming to bounce back

Trinidad and Tobago’s leading fast bowler Mervyn Dillon is aiming to bounce back as the premier bowler in the region if given the opportunity to play in Zimbabwe and South Africa later this year.
”I am disappointed that I wasn’t able to get a lot of wickets in the two recent series against Australia and Sri Lanka but all I can say is that I just fell into a little slump,” said Dillon yesterday.

After taking 76 International wickets (Tests and One-Day Internationals) in 2002, Dillon performed disappointingly during the Cable and Wireless back to back series at home. Prior to that he enjoyed a good World Cup and was instrumental in the West Indies winning the opening match against South Africa. After a good start by openers Hershelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten, he removed the former with an excellent outswinger. With the South Africans making a comeback led by Kirsten, Dillon was re-introduced into the attack and removed the dangerous left-hander with a well disguised slower delivery. When the Australians arrived in the Caribbean he led the attack and enjoyed his best returns with a four-wicket haul in the last Test at Antigua, which the West Indies won getting a record score of 418 for seven.

In the First Test against Sri Lanka he was very economical but failed to take a wicket and was dropped for the Second Test. A virtual unknown, Fidel Edwards of Barbados was introduced. In two previous Tests at Sabina, Dillon took 15 wickets. “Every player had a bad series and I am putting it down to that plain and simple. Great bowlers like Michael Holding had lean spells but came back better bowlers and this I hope to do,” the Toco-born Dillon said. “I am in the process of leaving for Miami, USA to take my daughters to DisneyWorld for a vacation and after I return I will be heading straight to the gym.” Dillon accompanied by his wife Sophia and daughters Destiny and Merelle will leave today. “I am very happy for the youngsters Jerome Taylor and Fidel Edwards who did very well in the Test in St Lucia. This kind of competition will just make me a better bowler. “When you know guys are on your heels for a pick you tend to raise your level of performance. I have been to South Africa already in 1998 and hopefully if I get to go there again I will have the knowledge of what is required in their conditions,” the lanky pacer promised.

Dillon also praised skipper Brian Lara who he says is constructing a very good team. “Brian’s leadership has been great and he is motivating the players around him to do well. He is also leading by example and this is really fantastic. “The West Indies will do well in South Africa this time because we have 17 good players to choose from and once the right combination gets into the Test we are going to redeem ourselves after the disaster of 1998,” Dillon said. The West Indies went under 5-0 in the Tests and 6-1 in the One-Day International series in 1998.