A must win game for West Indies

Elmo Rodrigopulle in West Indies

WORLD CUP: West Indies cricket which is now on a life support will have to win their Super 8 game against South Africa on Tuesday, if they are to shed the life support and start breathing again.

If Brian Lara's side capitulates in this game, then it will be the end of their campaign to being the first host nation to win the World Cup 2007, and which would certainly send the Caribbean countries in to mourning.

When the Windies won their three Group games convincingly, hopes ran high and every West Indian believed that their team could challenge strongly for the trophy.

There is a saying many a slip between the Cup and lip and the Windies experienced this when they lost their first three games in the Super 8, and their supporters did not waste time in picking holes in the selection, the captaincy and brickbats followed.

At the moment the West Indian team is down, but not out. A loss to South Africa and the rest of their games would only be of academic interest.

After the critics bashing, skipper Lara will have a big job in motivating his team to keep the rhythum, stay focused and add the all important intensity.

It is now up to every West Indian to pack the National Stadium in Grenada and cheer and encourage their team to achieve the impossible. As for the Windies they are a good and competent side. What is obvious is that they are not playing as a team, which is important for a team to achieve.

The wicket at the National Stadium, has also been newly laid and how it plays only the end of the game will tell. But captains seem to like chasing and it will be no different if Lara wins the toss.

The loss of form of opener Chris Gayle must be worrying the batsman and the team. Shiv Chanderpaul has the best strike rate Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara and the two Smiths - Dwaynne and Devon must also be among the runs.

Bowlers Darren Powell, Jerome Taylor, Ian Bradshaw who will be using the new ball and the spinners Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan must try and contain the free scoring SA batsmen.

The West Indies fielding was putrid against Sri Lanka and I am sure they would have paid attention to this important aspect.

South African batsmen skipper Gremame Smith, A.B. de villiers, Jacques Kallis, Herchelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher have all been in the runs. The bowling with Shaun Pollock leading them has been penetrative. Their fielding will once again be a deciding factor.

The West Indian Cricket Academy is housed at St. George's University which is in Greneda.

It became the 84th Test venue in 2002 when West Indies played New Zealand. Greneda was directly hit by Hurricane Ivan, resulting in serious and widespread damage. In 2005 Greneda was hit by a second Hurricane Emily.

Although Emily was not as damaging as Ivan there was some damage in the north of Greneda and extensive damage in the smaller Grenadine Islands.

GRENADA, Sunday