Windies SOS for Ottis Gibson
Trevor Chesterfield
1 January 1999
CAPE TOWN - A damp New Year afternoon did not help the temper of the
final West Indies practice session at Newlands today although there
was an interesting development with the possibility of Ottis Gibson
being called in as cover for the growing injury list in the tourists
camp.
With the fourth Test less than 18 hours away news was quietly leaked
that the tall Bajan all-rounder, with a Test to his credit, was called
in as cover for the injured Courtney Walsh, although their was some
light in the camp when it was also learnt Curtly Ambrose would play in
the fouth mtach of a series already lost 3-0.
Gibson was expected to join the side later on Friday after being
summoned from Kimberley.
Because of his playing in the Caribbean last summer in the four-day
inter-osland tournament, now renamed after the new sponsors, the Busta
Trophy, but because of his wife's illness only played a couple of
games, the West Indies selectors were not too bothered by adding his
name to the squad.
Perhaps there is a lesson in this line of thinking for some local
politicians and sports writers.
Local nit-picking of South Africa's success so far in this series has
also reached new levels after Dr Ali Bacher, of the United Cricket
Board, said the side for the match at Newlands had been ``unanimously
approved'' by the committee appointed by the UCB's executive to oversee
team selection policy.
The moring Cape Times, know for its critical stance on anything which
the UCB attempts, ran a lengthy back page lead in which sports editor
Louis Neethling gave Hansie Cronje's side a few pats on the back by
stating the obvious and then pushes in a query of how the South
Africans would stand up to the Windies sides led by Clive Lloyd and
Viv Richards?
Perhaps Neethling should have concentrated more on the positives of
South Africa's success than dealing in such fancy semantics which have
no relavance. Lara again tackled the issue of the team's lack off
success with an off the cuff interview.
``It is time the younger guys in the squad to stand up and be counted.
``Franklyn Rose did a fine job of us with the ball (at Kingsmead) and
Darren Ganga, in hius debut Tests looked the part of a batsman. They
have set the example for the other youngsters coming into the team.
``All right, the series is dead for us, but it is important for me, as
the captain, that I keep the guys going.''
Lara declined to comment on the sloppy fielding by the Windies so far
this series, although Shivnarine Chanderpual is up there with Jonty
Rhodes and Herschelle Gibbs.
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