Hooper disappointed with
team's form

Ashish Shukla

A struggling West Indies wear a worried look as they go into the opening match of the triangular series against Zimbabwe in Harare on Saturday, seeking to rebuild their tattered reputation.

Coming from a Test and one-day series defeat at home against South Africa, the West Indies are hoping they will be able to put up a decent performance in the tournament.

But nothing has gone right for Carl Hooper and his men in over a week they have been in this African country. They played two practice matches and appeared novices against lightweight oppositions.

They nearly lost the first one against CFX Academy, the team of students who got a hammering from the Indians in a three-day first class fixture, and on Wednesday lost to Country Districts XI, made up of veteran and retired Zimbabwe cricketers, by seven wickets.

"I'm very disappointed, I suppose we underestimated the opposition a little," said Hooper. "The batsmen showed very little application and patience and it was a poor performance.

"We've had problems in recent years with our batting, but I don't think it's any reason to panic at this stage. You are always going to have a bad game on tour and hopefully this was it."

On the other hand, Zimbabwe come into the series fresh from a morale-boosting four-wicket win against India in the second Test and though the inspirational Andy Flower, nursing a thumb injury, will be missing, they certainly look a far better side.

"Given what happened against the country districts team, we can't underestimate Zimbabwe," Hooper said.

Be it batting or bowling, the West Indies are having problems on every count. Mercurial Brian Lara was dismissed for 11 and only a fighting 84 from Shivnaraine Chanderpaul and 34 by Hooper were saving graces.

In bowling too, none of their pacemen looked impressive as even County Districts XI rattled up their target of 207 losing just three wickets.

For Zimbabwe, the only problem seems to be the absence of Andy Flower, who has gone to Johannesburg to have a check on his broken thumb. He would be out for eight weeks and will not only miss the triangular but also the two Tests against the West Indies, with the first starting at Bulawayo on July 19.

Flower, on return, was downcast at the turn of events. "I caught a ball awkwardly in the Harare Test and it ripped the ligaments off one of the bones in the thumb. It has to be re-attached and then I'll be in cast for five weeks," he said.

In Flower's absence, talented little wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu, 18, will make his international debut.

Flower paid a handsome tribute to the young black cricketer. "Taibu is a very talented young man. We've played club cricket together. He's got good hands and he is also talented with the bat."

Taibu was played in Friday's practice game between Zimbabwe 'A' and the Indians even though his debut match is just 24 hours away.

Mail Cricket Editor