Lara surprise plan for Windies

Which is no doubt the reason he may tackle the job himself for the West Indies when they face South Africa in the third game of the Standard Bank International series at Kingsmead in Durban today. That is if you take his point seriously, for the touring team's captain has mentioned ``examining our batting options closely'' more than once during the team's net session yesterday.

Lara points to the series being level at 1-1 as a reason for a rethink in the Windies top-order pattern and to maintain as well the ``right pressure on South Africa''.

With worries in both camps about the failure of the openers to put runs on the board, Lara has decided to offer himself as a replacement for Philo Wallace while in-form Carl Hooper has also been touted as a possible partner for Shivnarine Chanderpaul. Yet in his present form Lara is not an option to bat in any position apart from the tail.

There are strong arguments circulating in both camps whether having two left-handers at the top of the order is an advisable choice as opposed to the often disruptive right-left combination. Which suggests that like the Windies, South Africa are also contemplating further changes under the match-by-match rotation experiment.

In Lara's case the absence of the success of Wallace and Nixon McLean in the top three should see a major alteration to the top three While Lara has filled in as an opener in occasional LOI games, his run-making abilities and shot selection suggests it would be far better for Hooper to take over from Wallace and perhaps Darren Ganga bat at three or even share the openers role with Chanderpaul.

``We're still thinking about it,'' Lara said yesterday. ``We need stability in the top order. It has been missing all tour and we would like to be two-one up after this one,'' he added.

Hansie Cronje was open about the South African intentions. He felt the plan to continue the rotation system was important as it gave himself and the selectors a better chance to evaluate the various batting and bowling permutations.

``We still have everything to play for,'' he said. ``I can't tell what changes we are going to make, but there will be a few as we need to look at everyone in this (17-strong) squad.''

Cronje admitted South Africa lost the plot in East London and a way needed to be found to score more runs off Curtly Ambrose as well as Shaun Pollock and Co learning to bowl tighter and straighter to curb the brilliance of Chanderpaul and the workman-like style of Hooper.

What is likely to put pressure on some South African players today is the announcement of the side to tour New Zealand for six weeks from next month. Some players are clearly jittery as they have not been told of their future. Already there is a view Mike Rindel is either to open with Herschelle Gibbs today or is unlikely to be see in action again until Bloemfontein. The again there is the Rindel/Daryll Cullinan option with Gibbs at three.

The problem is that there have been so many signals transmitted during the South African net sessions on the limited-overs leg of this West Indies tour trying to work out the right Morse code has not been easy.

One message perceived at this point is Andrew Hudson, whose contract has been extended by the UCB is a prime candidate for the New Zealand tour; fact or fiction, it is one of several mystery points in what is a crucial day for a number of players whose World Cup aspirations can take a dive.