Windies look to balance record

The over three hours of work-out at the Nehru stadium here today by the visiting West Indies `A’ was a clear indication that Roger Harper’s men are serious about the match.

“As we had the day off yesterday, after arrival, we had to work overtime today,” was how Garner’s put it. “I have seen the wicket, but not read it. Who knows how it will play tomorrow?”

“We are giving everyone an opportunity to play,” was a clear sign that this tour was a testing time for the team before they hit high in their playing careers.

It is upright that the three players wicket-keeper batsman Courtney Brown, speedster Ian Bishop and Chris Gayle who have not played so far, will be given their due before they begin the tour on a serious note.

On the other hand, coach Roger Harper was quite content in saying, “We did have some injury problems, but now everything seems to be all right. However, the team will be decided later.” About Reon King’s injury he said that he was well.

The Nehru Stadium wicket, known to be a batsman’s paradise, will play wicked for them (the batsmen) initially, but once it settles down the pitch simply favours the batsmen.

The venue, as one dates back in recent times, has not been a fruitful one for the Windies. February 29, 1996 was the day when the Nehru Stadium found itself in the annals of cricket’s history. West Indies under the leadership of Richie Richardson, who took on Kenya in a World Cup league game were in for a rude shock at the end of the day as the Kenyans pulped them much to the surprise of the entire cricketing world.

Going back in time, Nehru Stadium played host to the Viv Richards led West Indies in 1988 for a three-day tie against North Zone, the Duleep Trophy champions, in which over a thousand runs were scored. Two centuries — one each by Richie Richardson and Raman Lamba were the highlights of that match.

Like the visitors, the home team, the BCCI Indian Youth too are yet to finalise their playing eleven. “The team will be declared only before the match,” said Sairaj Bahutule, the skipper.

The 14-member Indian Youth team is mixture of spin and pace, but their batting strength is quite deep, with Sairaj Bahutule who is a spinner himself and can also bat.

“The visiting team is a good attacking side, and this is a very good opportunity for all of us to make the most of it. It is an occasion for me as well. It will be good contest,” said Bahutule.

“We will be batting no doubt if I win the toss,” added Bahutule.

“This is a good track to bat on and it could turn as the game wears,” said Milind Gunjal, the manager of the home team.

Both the teams have their own ammunition, but it is the West Indies who possess the striking threat spearheaded by their skipper Ian Bishop, besides Reon King and Pedro Collins who troubled the batsmen on Indian soil, despite the wickets being not so conducive for them.

Teams
West Indies `A’: Ian Bishop (Captain), Richard Smith, Sherwin Campbell, Chris Gayle, Adrian Griffith, Courtney Browne, Predro Collins, Wavel Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Neil McGarrell, Keith Semple, Reon King, Wayne Philip, Rawle lewis, Carl Tuckett. Coach: Roger Harper. Manager: Joel Garner.
BCCI India Youth (from): Sairaj Bahutule (captain), Jyoti Yadav, Amit Pagnis, Rohan Gavaskar, Debang Gandhi, Mithun Minhas, Mohhamad Kaif, s Sreeram, Vijay Dahiya (w-k), Nilesh Kulkarni, Sanjay raul, Odeb Kamal, Ashish W Zaidi.
Umpires: R Nagraj (Goa), Chandrashekar Sathe (Maharashtra).
Hours of Play: 9.30 a.m 11.30 am; 12.10 to 2.10 p.m; 2.30 to 4.30 p.m.