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West Indies: Spinners Could Play Key Role

The Barbados Nation
13 October 1998



Two former Test players, one from each side, have picked a spinner among their six key men for the forthcoming five-Test series between South Africa and the West Indies in South Africa.

In a feature in the latest edition of the Red Stripe Caribbean Cricket Quarterly magazine, Barry Richards, the great South African opening batsman of the 1970s, identifies unorthodox left-armer Paul Adams as a possible ``trump card'' for South Africa.

David Holford, the former West Indies all-rounder, team manager and chief selector, chooses leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine among his crucial half-dozen for the West Indies.

``South Africa are aware of the West Indian fallibility against spin, especially the back-of-the-hand variety, and he (Adams) may, in the end, prove a trump card,'' Richards writes.

Richards points out that Adams is ``still finding his feet'' but can spin the ball prodigiously, especially away from the right-handers.

But he pleads for more innovative use and supportive field placings from captain Hansie Cronje so that Adams can attack more.

``In England, he was often used in a defensive role, bowling over the wicket to ensure a meagre run rate and give the quicks a rest. If he attacks, he might just be the match-winning spinner South Africa are looking for,'' Richards says.

Holford says Ramnarine's role, along with off-spinner Carl Hooper, would be to get wickets in the middle to ensure that the fast bowlers, in their come-back spells, don't find themselves bowling at the same batsmen who were in when they were rested.

He is high is praise of the Trinidad and Tobago leg-spinner.

``Growing in confidence all the while, Ramnarine showed on debut against England that he can handle the pressure at Test level,'' Holford writes.

``He has good control, in that he doesn't bowl too many bad balls, has a good attitude in that he seeks and listens to advice and is learning all the time.''

Richards' other chosen South Africa five are Cronje, left-handed opener Gary Kirsten, batsman Jacques Kallis and fast bowlers Allan Donald and Shaun Pollock.

Holford's other key West Indians are captain Brian Lara, all-rounder Hooper, fast bowlers Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh and ``the wicket-keeper'', whether Junior Murray or Ridley Jacobs.


Source: The Barbados Nation
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