|
|
|
| May 24, 2005 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 15, 1426 |
Kaneria could pose problems: Gibbs
GROS ISLET, May 23: Former West Indian off-spinning great Lance Gibbs believed that spinners were still to be a force to reckon with and Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria could play a vital role in the Test series against the West Indies. “I saw Kaneria bowling in the recent series in India and I found him extremely good bowler,” the 72-year-old USA-based said on Sunday. “It may expose the vulnerability of some of our batsmen.”
He said West Indies always had problems against genuine leg-spinners and Kaneria was probably among the best current slow bowlers.
“Look at the Australians, they have Shane Warne, Sri Lanka have got (Muttiah) Muralitharan, India possess (Anil) Kumble and Harbhajan (Singh), Pakistan have Kaneria and (Shahid) Afridi and England rely on Ashley Giles,” he remarked.
Commenting on current Pakistan team, he said they did not do particularly well in Australia but fought back superbly in India.
He complimented Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer for moulding the team into a winning combination. “It was great to see them coming back in the Test series against India to share it and won the one-day series 4-2 after being 0-2 down.”
Regarding the pitches in the West Indies, Gibbs, who toured Pakistan in 1974-75 and again as manager in 1993, commented the pitches were much better in the past. “The Jamaica pitch used to be good for quick bowlers and the Kensington Oval pitch in Barbados is good for pacemen at the start and becomes good for batting from the second day.”
He said the wickets in West Indies nowadays are under-prepared because the groundsmen are not putting that kind of effort which was seen in the past.
Gibbs, who broke Englishman Fred Trueman’s then world record of 307 in 1975-76, said the West Indian cricket was passing through a transition period and would require several years to reach the top. “All the top teams had gone through the same problems in the past. Look at England, South Africa, India and Pakistan, they are all back on track.”—APP
|
|
|
|
