Date-stamped : 16 May95 - 10:28 Tour Match: Hampshire v West Indies Southampton, 14 May 1995 Udal`s victory role reminds selectors by Christopher Martin-Jenkins Hants (268-5) bt West Indies (225) by 43 runs THE Test and County Cricket Board issued a warning to the coun- ties before the West Indies tour that nothing but wholehearted performances by full-strength sides would be acceptable. The Tet- ley sponsorship should reinforce the message, but with nothing at stake Hampshire showed yesterday that old-fashioned honour can be a powerful motive too. After their facile, 102-run victory at Arundel, the West Indies encountered altogether sterner opposition and were beaten by 43 runs, Shaun Udal taking three for 34 to embellish an innings of 28 from 12 balls which turned Hampshire`s total from useful to a highly demanding one. It was a performance which should do Udal no harm when the selectors choose this week between him, Paul Weekes and Robert Croft in the slow-bowling role for England in the one-day internationals. Robin Smith looked in good touch but did not take the chance to make a significant score. He was a victim of his own strength, caught on the cover boundary off a square-cut. It was two batsmen yet to establish their presence in the side, Shaun Morris and Giles White, who produced the major innings after Richie Richard- son had given Hampshire first use of another Southampton pitch with a bit in it for everyone. The gates had to be closed and the home team rewarded a cheerful assembly of more than 4,500 with a spirited batting performance. Their 55-over total of 268 for five proved too much despite some mighty smiting by Ottis Gibson, who hit 57 off 46 balls after Brian Lara had played on to Norman Cowans in the 14th over and Carl Hooper had chipped Udal to mid-wicket in the 23rd. It would be wrong to call the charming Hooper a failure The experiment with Hooper as an opener may turn out to the most signficant aspect of this first weekend of the tour. It would be wrong to call this charming cricketer a failure after 47 Tests: he has, after all, made four hundreds and he does, at least, average 30. None the less, he knows that this is a poor reflec- tion of his felicitous talent. Opening the innings may do for his technique and concentration what once it did for Dennis Amiss, Graham Gooch and others but only if, having got to 25, he makes it count more often. He managed it on Saturday, dominating a friendly attack (Vasbert Drakes apart) to the tune of 173 not out and nine sixes. He will continue opening until further notice. The two who took their chances best yesterday were Morris and White. When the ball was new, hard and moving about a bit, Morris was solid and straight. White had a couple of early breaks but stayed to play strokes of real flair, including the square-cut, back-foot steer and defiant pull which brought him three fours in an over off Curtly Ambrose. It was a cold day and the West Indies fast bowlers did not extend themselves, although they bowled 24 extra balls and took 33/4 hours over 55 overs. Their fielding was fumbly where Hampshire`s was sharp. The West Indians have less time than usual to play themselves into this tour and this was a warning that they are not going to come across meek and feeble opposition. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)