The West Indies have found themselves saddled with two immediate, predictable and familiar problems in the early stages of the series of seven One-day Internationals against South Africa.
They are, almost as a matter of course, in a quandary over who should open the batting and are concerned over Curtly Ambrose's physical condition. In neither case has the selection of the squad afforded them peace of mind.
Philo Wallace, who established himself as the new first choice No.1 in the Wills International Cup in Bangladesh in October, has failed to come to terms with the different conditions in South Africa and his confidence has been so eroded that he is almost certain to be replaced for the third match under the lights here tomorrow (Wednesday).
Ambrose was used for only six of his quota of 10 overs in the first, long overdue victory in the second ODI in East London on Sunday, complaining of soreness in his left knee.
Physiotherapist Dennis Waight said yesterday all the fast bowlers commented on the hardness of the pitch and both Ambrose and Reon King required treatment. But, he stressed, Ambrose had no bother from the hamstring muscle he strained in the Fourth Test three weeks ago.
``Ambi remained on the field because he would have bowled if needed,'' Waight said. ``We had plenty of runs in hand for a change so the skipper didn't have to call on him. We'll work on him over the next couple of days and he should be alright.''
With Ambrose, King and Nixon McLean the only three fast bowlers in the squad of 15, it is vital that none breaks down over the last five matches on pitches that, as was the case in the Tests, are likely to be fast and bouncy.
These are conditions that have contributed to Wallace's troubles. His effective power-hitting brought him 240 runs at an average of 80 in the three matches in Bangladesh, including his run-a-ball 103 against South Africa in a losing cause in the final. But the pitches there were flat and easy-paced.
His method is unsuited to the livelier surfaces and the high-class fast bowling he has encountered in South Africa. He managed a mere 68 in eight Test innings and fell for three and a first-ball ``duck'', caught at third man, in the two ODIs.
He has taken to wearing contact lenses in the past three weeks, a legacy of a bout of glandular fever that kept him out of the Second Test and reportedly affected his eyesight.
The selectors' decision to replace two of the other experienced openers in the original team, Stuart Williams and Clayton Lambert, has left only Daren Ganga as an alternative to Wallace to go in first.
But there seems a reluctance on the part of those here who choose the starting XI-captain Brian Lara, vice-captain Carl Hooper, manager Clive Lloyd and coach Malcolm Marshall-to use Ganga.
It has been a tough debut tour for the 20-year-old who found himself thrown into the Test team clearly before he was ready, with only one hundred and a handful of first-class matches behind him.
He demonstrated a calm temperament and never looked out of place. But it is clear that he would benefit more from playing four-day cricket in the Busta Cup for Trinidad and Tobago than remaining in South Africa, either in the reserves or, as could be the case before long, going in first in the ODIs.
If neither he nor Wallace is picked, then who will partner the in-form Shivnarine Chanderpaul?
Lloyd said yesterday the options were numerous. Junior Murray did the job with success in Australia two years ago, Keith Semple opened in a couple of the ``A'' team internationals in India and, of course, Lara himself first came to international attention opening in the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The bounce has also repeatedly been Lara's undoing in South Africa, as it was in East London on Sunday against Shaun Pollock. He sought shelter down the order in the Tests and it would be a bold move now to accept the challenge of opening.
Perhaps the absence of the injured Allan Donald and the brilliant second match 150 by Chanderpaul, with whom he enjoys a friendly rivalry, are the carrots to tempt him.
The 14 matches against two of the strongest limited-overs teams at present-the seven here and the seven to follow against Australia in the Caribbean in April-give the selectors the ideal opportunity to sort out their combination for the World Cup in England in May and June.
They are making no noticeable progress here.