Windies go for broke

WITH the Sir Viv Richards Trophy - symbol of cricket supremacy between South Africa and the West Indies  at stake — the Windies start the third Digicel test match against the Proteas today at Kensington Oval in Barbados, knowing fully well only a win can keep alive their chances of lifting the trophy. Already trailing one — nil in the four Test series, with two Tests in the bag, Windies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul and his men will be going all out for victory at the Oval. The toss could prove very crucial.

“I don’t think anyone has to worry about us recognising that we have got a real fight on our hands,” West Indies coach Bennett King told reporters on the eve of the match. “The players understand the position in which we find ourselves, and the opportunities that were presented to them in the last two matches that we did not grasp.” King however, was not too distraught about the defeat in Trinidad because he felt the side had played competitively for most of the match. “If you look at the intricacies of the game, I do not believe it was an easy win for South Africa,” he said.

Local cricket experts believe with the South African bowling attack bolstered by the return of fit-again all rounder and former captain Shaun Pollock, the West Indies would be better off bowling first instead of facing the Africans first on a wicket expected to be fast and bouncy. However, Pollock’s inclusion is not a guarantee since the South African selectors may not want to tinker with the side that won the second test match in Trinidad a forthnight ago. The first test at Bourda in Guyana ended in a draw while the second test was won by the visitors by eight wickets thanks largely to a record bowling performance from consistent, penetrative paceman Makhaya Ntini, who took 13 wickets in the match, and a century from captain Graeme Smith.

Speaking with reporters in Barbados, Pollock underlined the importance of South Africa winning the crucial third cricket Test against West Indies. “There is no doubt we have to win this game,” Pollock told reporters after a workout with the South African team on Tuesday. “If we win the Test, the series stops here and that will be the attitude. Saying this however, it all starts from a firm foundation,” Pollock said. “Whether we bat or bowl first, we are going to have to do it well and try a put ourselves in a position from which we can attack,” he added. The West Indies are expected to welcome back all-rounder Ryan Hinds who did not play in the Trindad Test because of illness and 23-year-old Bajan paceman Fidel Edwards, who is returning to the side after a lengthy absence due to injury.

Edwards has been out of the game for the past eight months caused by stress fractures to his back. Speaking with reporters after the Windies trained at the Three Ws Oval at the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill) on Tuesday, Edwards said he was intent on restarting his Test career with a bang. “I am going to target everyone,” Edwards declared. Edwards is expected to return to the side at the expense of consistent pacer Pedro Collins who has a slight injury. Pollock, who missed the first two Tests of the series because he remained in South Africa to receive treatment on chronic inflammation in his left ankle, arrived in Barbados on Monday with his wife Tricia and daughter Jemma.

He had his first workout with the South African team on Tuesday and left the decision about his place in the side up to the tour selectors. “I have to wait and see if I am selected first of all,” he said. The last time the two teams met at Kensington Oval, Pollock was captain, he hit a hundred and his side was on the verge of victory only to be denied by some questionable antics from the West Indies’ tailenders. The 31-year-old Pollock, who has scored 3,120 runs and taken 377 wickets in 93 Tests, believes he can get through the last two Tests of the series, if the selectors really want him to do it. “I have not played much serious cricket. So it’s a decision for management. Whether they want to risk me or not. Whether they want to wait until the next Test match.”