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Windies captain going home
21/01/2008 22:27 - (SA)
Christo Buchner , Beeld
Cape Town - In yet another major blow, the touring West Indies cricket team have lost their captain, Chris Gayle. The star batsman will go home on Tuesday.
Gayle has not played since suffering a broken thumb in the second Test match against South Africa.
Without their inspirational skipper, the Windies have a rather thin batting lineup.
Team manager Clive Lloyd said on Monday Gayle's departure was a major setback but he should be given enough time to recover for the home series against Sri lanka in March.
Lloyd hopes one of the younger members of the team will grab the opportunity to fill Gayle's boots.
South Africa received better news on Monday. Proteas captain Graeme Smith's knee injury is not as serious as had been feared. He is expected to play in the second one-day international at Newlands on Friday.
Joubert Strydom, convener of the SA selectors, has named an unchanged squad for the Newlands match and for the next ODI, to be played in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
Strydom said there was less concern over Smith's injury than about the fitness of some other players.
Nel has a neck injury
Fast bowler Dale Steyn has a hamstring problem and his pace partner André Nel has a neck injury. Justin Ontong has knee troubles and veteran batsman Herschelle Gibbs suffers from a calf injury.
The injury worries made the selectors decide to retain their squad. If the Proteas have an unassailable lead after the match in Port Elizabeth, some players could be given a rest.
Gibbs has returned to the squad after taking time off to support his wife, who has undergone surgery. He was not considered for last Sunday's match.
The lack of in-form opening batsmen is one of the problems that must be solved. And to add to the worries, all three openers, Smith, Gibbs and AB de Villiers, have been injured recently.
The main concern, however, is Steyn's hamstring injury. He is unable to bowl at full pace and may be given a rest on Friday, especially if the Newlands outfield is as heavy as it was during the recent Test match.
Morné Morkel or Makhaya Ntini could stand in for Steyn.
The SA squad: Graeme Smith (c), Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Justin Ontong, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, André Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Albie Morkel, Morné Morkel, Dale Steyn, Johan Botha and Charl Langeveldt.
- Beeld
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