Hooper unruffled by captaincy criticism

New West Indies captain Carl Hooper shrugged off claims by Gary Sobers and Michael Holding that he should not have been given the job.

"Whatever Mr Holding and Mr Sobers have said has no bearing on what I do," Hooper said on Thursday on the eve of the opening Test against South Africa.

"I keep most of my thoughts to myself. My intentions were always to play for the West Indies again," Hooper added.

Former West Indies fast bowler Holding had said he was so incensed by the choice of skipper that he would refuse to commentate on the five-match series.

He accused Hooper, who announced his international retirement in 1999, of turning his back on West Indies cricket in the past and said he was now being rewarded for selfishness.

Sobers was reported as saying: "We are rebuilding and I can't see Hooper being a part of the rebuilding of West Indies cricket. West Indies have suffered many defeats at the hands of lots of teams and Hooper was nowhere around."

But Holding's former team mate Viv Richards said Hooper would bring some much-needed quality to the team.

"We haven't seen many class individuals recently, notably in our batting," said Richards at a news conference to launch the series. Hooper was also in attendance.

"I feel that Carl has been a little bit of an under-achiever. I believe this is Carl's second coming and I believe he will be most valuable in a team where we lack class at this point."

LOST PLACE

Hooper replaced Jimmy Adams, who lost both the captaincy and his place in the team following the 5-0 drubbing in Australia.

Hooper did not see his absence from the West Indies line-up as a problem. "I don't think it will be difficult as I have 12 years of international experience behind me and I have only been out for 18 months. I have nine or 10 (Busta Cup) matches behind me so I'm well prepared.

"It's important for West Indies cricket to get back on its feet. It's important for us to try and be competitive."

More than half the West Indies squad arrived in Georgetown late on Wednesday night because they had been involved in the Busta Cup final which finished in Jamaica on Tuesday.

Hooper, who captained the losing Guyana team in the final, said it was not an ideal situation.

"We would liked to have had a couple of days to relax, to get to meet the players or have a team meeting or two before we start the Test match."

South Africa have been in Guyana since last Thursday -- the day before Hooper was named captain -- and have already played a three-day warm-up.

"It has been great preparation," said captain Shaun Pollock, whose team thrashed the West Indies 5-0 less than two years ago.

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