World mark beckons Walsh
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

HAMILTON, DECEMBER 15: West Indies veteran fast-bowler Courtney Walsh steps out tomorrow on the homeward stretch of his bid to become cricket's most successful Test bowler -- a prize just 12 wickets away.

The once feared Windies are something of a shadow of themselves -- in the `re-building' phase that cricket fans here are so used to with their own side. But the 37-year-old Walsh is still their most effective bowler and the West Indies will be banking on his herculean powers when the-two Test series against New Zealand starts here Thursday.

The also retired Richard Hadlee, currently the second most successful wicket-taker with 431 said Walsh might find it difficult to get the record here, but there was `a sniff of a chance' given his previous performances here.

Hamilton can aid fast bowlers while Wellington's Basin Reserve, venue for the second Test, has even more pace and bounce than it did in 1995 when Walsh took 13 wickets over two innings for 55 runs.

``Some grounds have the right feel,'' Hadleesaid. ``You can't wait to get back on them. Having spearheaded the Windies attack in their last two Test campaigns earlier this year against South Africa and Australia, he knows the record can be a reality.''

Walsh did not play county cricket for Gloucestershire last season and he says that gave him the impetus to stay in the international arena. ``I would have been satisfied with 400 but I have the chance of getting past two great bowlers, Sir Richard Hadlee and Kapil Dev.''

The West Indies today were undecided as to whether to take a three or four-pronged pace attack into the game.

Offspinner Nehemiah Perry has a good chance of playing and reducing the seam attack to three after his two for 67 off 37 overs against Auckland and his added batting prowess. The pitch could also take turn later on.

New Zealand meanwhile were encouraged by their best-performed current Test batsman Craig McMillan declaring he has no worries with fitness or form despite not playing a first-class game since breaking a fingeragainst India two months ago.

Teams (from): New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Gary Stead, Craig Spearman, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Adam Parore, Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Andrew Penn, Paul Wiseman, Shayne O'Connor.

West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Adrian Griffith, Shivnarine chanderpaul, Jimmy Adams, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Nehemiah Perry, Franklyn Rose, Courtney Walsh, Mervyn Dillon, Pedro Collins.

Umpires: Doug Cowie (New Zealand), David Shepherd (England).

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.