WI recall Hooper, to lead against Africa

WI recall Hooper, to lead against Africa
ASSOCIATED PRESS

BRIDGETOWN, March 3: All-rounder Carl Hooper will be the new West Indies captain for the forthcoming series at home against South Africa, the West Indies Cricket Board has confirmed.

The 34-year-old all-rounder, who temporarily quit international cricket two years ago, replaces Jamaican left-hander Jimmy Adams, 33, who held the captain’s post since last February, the Board confirmed on Friday night.

Hooper, a veteran of 80 Tests and 182 One-Day internationals, announced his retirement in April, 1999. Hooper had a moderate batting average in Tests of 33.76 and a bowling average of 47.01.

After retiring, he emigrated to Australia played a season’s club cricket in Melbourne, but returned for the regional Red Stripe Bowl One-Day tournament in October and for the current first-class Busta International Series.

Hooper broke a tournament batting record this year with 889 runs at an average of 97, including four centuries, took 24 wickets with his off-spin, leading Guyana to the final of the Busta International Shield against Jamaica in Kingston on last Saturday.

The first of five Tests against South Africa starts in Hooper’s hometown, Georgetown, Guyana next week.

Hooper’s case was strongly promoted in his native Guyana. Guyana’s president Bharrat Jagdeo publicly called on the West Indies Cricket Board to consider him as captain. There were fears that fans would boycott the Test if Hooper was not made captain.

Adams, the outgoing captain, was appointed when star left-handed batsman Brian Lara resigned last February.