Windies eyes on run rate (27 May 1999)

27 May 1999

Windies eyes on run rate

The Barbados Nation

LEICESTER - Three things occupied the West Indies' attention on the eve to their World Cup group match against lowly Scotland here today.

The first was the choice of the XI they need to secure a convincing victory over amateur opponents who have been beaten in all their three matches so far.

The second was the run rate they require to surpass New Zealand, just in case that stipulation is needed to separate teams that are equal on points for entry into the next round, the Super Sixes.

The third was the live television coverage of the remarkable European Champions football final in which another great West Indian sportsman, Manchester United's Tobago-born striker Dwight Yorke, one-time team-mate and long-time friend of Brian Lara, was featuring.

They committed themselves only to 12 from whom the final team would be chosen. The only likely change is Hendy Bryan for Courtney Walsh, both to rest Walsh who has played in all three matches to date, and to keep Bryan match-ready in case he is needed later on.

Manager Clive Lloyd said they had asked their scorer, supplied by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), to calculate how their run rate stands in relation to New Zealand's and Australia's.

Both have played the same three matches with two to play. The West Indies and New Zealand have four points, Australia two points. New Zealand are ahead on run rate, 0.42 to 0.08 for the West Indies and -0.05 for the Australians.

It is an equation the West Indies were made well aware of last night. They did not make the most of their opportunity to boost their rate in either of their comfortable victories over Bangladesh and New Zealand. They must do so here.

It does not mean that they will be enticed into a foolhardy helter-skelter rush for runs but they have to be conscious of the requirement.

They have watched the Scots on the television coverage and know that, although they have lost all their matches, their bowlers are well versed in the art of utilising the seaming pitches - and the white ball - that have generally favoured the bowlers throughout.

In their opening match, they managed only 181 for seven off their 50 overs but made Australia fight to pass it in 44.5 overs.

Pakistan, batting first, won easily enough but had to battle through the first 20 overs in which they lost four wickets. Bangladesh were 26 for five in the 11th over before recovering to 185 for nine - and winning.

Scotland's batting has been their failing. Their top order had struggled and they have had to depend heavily on hard-hitting all-rounder Gavin Hamilton who, until yesterday's run glut by Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid for India against Sri Lanka, was the topscorer in the tournament with 173 runs in three innings.

Hamilton, 22, who plays for Yorkshire in the English county championship and was short-listed for the England squad before claimed by his native Scotland, is one of only two out-and-out professionals in the team. The other is medium-pacer John Blain who is with Northamptonshire.

The remainder are basically weekend club cricketers, as is true of the other two International Cricket Council (ICC) associate teams in the tournament: Bangladesh and Kenya.

The difference in standards between them and the established sides has been emphasised here. There hasn't even been an upset such as Kenya's famous - or infamous, depending on your point of view - win over the West Indies in 1996 or fledgling Zimbabwe's over Australia in their very first World Cup match in 1983.

The Kenyan debacle the last time influenced an understandable, but costly, caution against Bangladesh in frigid Dublin last Friday when they took 46.3 overs to arrive at their winning goal of 183.

There was similar care in scoring the 158 required to beat New Zealand in Southampton on Monday off 44.2 overs.

There is the need for more adventure against the Scots today. The run rate regulations demand it and a promised warm, sunny day should encourage it.

West Indies (from): Brian Lara (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Ridley Jacobs, Jimmy Adams, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Stuart Williams, Phil Simmons, Curtly Ambrose, Merv Dillon, Reon King, Courtney Walsh and Hendy Bryan.

Scotland (from): George Salmond (captain), Bruce Patterson, Ian Phillip, Mike Smith, Ikan Stanger, Gavin Hamilton, James Brinckley, Alec Davies, John Blain, Asim Butt, Nick Dyer, Greig Williamson, Mike Allingham.

Umpires: Javed Ahktar (Pakistan), Ian Robinson (Zimbabwe).

TV replays: Srinivasa Ventakaraghan (India): Match referee: Peter Burge (Australia).

Weather forecast: Warm, cloudy with sunny spells and chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

High temperate: 25°C.

Source :: The Barbados Nation (https://www.nationnews.com/)