Cuddy gets ready to do it at home

“It will be a dream come true to get the record and I will be very, very happy if if can get the five wickets in Jamaica,” Walsh said on Monday at the first of a series of testimonial dinners to be held across the Caribbean in his honour.

“What is important is that the West Indies win the Test match. If I get the record, I would be personally satisfied, but very disappointed if the team does not win the match,” he said.

Jamaicans are expected to attend the match, dubbed `A Dedication to Our Cuddy’ in large numbers over the five days in support of the 37-year-old fast bowler.

“It has been a life I would not trade because the people have made me feel it was worth it,” Walsh said. The West Indies Cricket Board is making a contribution of $1 from each ticket sold for the Test to the Courtney Walsh Appreciation Fund.

“This is a tangible expression of appreciation of Walsh’s outstanding service to West Indies cricket,” noted a news release from the WICB.

Apart from the hype connected to Walsh, the batting of both West Indies and Zimbabwe will be under the microscope. Neither side equipped themselves well in the opening Test at Trinidad’s Queen’s Park Oval, where West Indies completed a 35-run triumph after setting Zimbabwe a target of 99.

“We should have scored more runs, but what I want to stress is that this is an ongoing process,” Jimmy Adams, the West Indies captain, told reporters after the match in which his side could only muster totals of 187 and 147.

“We want to develop an environment that will bring consistently good cricket. I would be lying if I said the environment is there, but it is going to take time.”

Andy Flower, captain of Zimbabwe, scored a century to give his side a modest first innings lead, but Monday’s debacle will leave the Africans questioning their batting. “Our batting over the last year or so has not been consistent enough,” Flower said.

“Again, it showed that is where we are a little weak. I do not think our batting in this match was up to scratch.” West Indies are likely to stick to the maxim that if it is not broke, do not fix it.

As they capitulated in Trinidad, the wisdom of seven batsmen capable of batting left-handed in the final 11 was questioned. It is felt that Ricardo Powell should be included in the side to offer some variety to the line-up, but it will be hard to find a place for him after southpaw new boys Chris Gayle and Wavel Hinds shaped up well in Trinidad.

There is not much that Zimbabwe can do to fortify their batting. The frontline batsmen chosen in Trinidad are their best. Captain Flower will be looking for a little more substance and stability if his side is to draw the series.

He will be hoping for much more from his brother Grant, former captain Alistair Campbell and the confident Murray Goodwin. And though Trevor Gripper batted resolutely, Zimbabwe will hope he can add some real beef to the total.

While West Indies are likely to keep faith with their four-pronged pace attack, Zimbabwe might consider tinkering with their attack. Heath Streak was head and shoulders above the rest of the Zimbabwe bowlers with nine wickets in the match, but he lacked support from Henry longa, Mpumelelo Mbangwa, Brian Murphy and Neil Johnson, whose contributions were sporadic.

Fast-medium bowlers Bryan Strang (left-arm) and Andy Blignaut are two choices available to captain Flower. Unlike two years ago when the opening Test between West Indies and England was abandoned, the pitch has behaved itself and Adams will have fond memories of his match-winning partnership with Brian Lara against Australia last year.