Logie not fazed by S/African changes

EAST LONDON: West Indies coach Gus Logie is not fazed by changes in the South African team that could make the home side stronger for the Second Test starting Friday in Durban.

Experienced left-handed batsman Gary Kirsten and left-arm chinaman bowler Paul Adams have been named in a 13-member South Africa squad, to replace pacer Garnett Kruger, who did not play in the opening Test, and left-arm spinner Robin Peterson. “Whatever the South Africans have to offer, we will certainly try to counteract that,” Logie told CMC Sport. Kirsten, South Africa’s leading Test batsman with 6,866 runs at 44.87 in 95 Tests, missed the opening Test because his pregnant wife was due to give birth to their first child, while Adams missed the first Test with a hand injury that has bothered him throughout the season.

The South Africans — after a 189-run triumph in Johannesburg — hold a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series for the Sir Vivian Richards Trophy, and Logie said his emphasis is on getting his unit ready for battle. “At this time we are focusing on our squad and to see that we get everybody as fit as possible both physically and mentally. “Being 1-0 down, I think our players are quite keen to address that, they are looking forward to the second Test match to draw alongside the South Africans and we’ll take it from there,” Logie said.

The West Indies were traveling yesterday to Durban where the Second Test pitch at Kingsmead is expected to favour fast bowling. The tourists are likely to maintain a quartet of pacers for the game and if Corey Collymore (hamstring injury) is not fit enough, then his place should go to Adam Sanford, who took five for 53 against Border last weekend.