CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Curtly Ambrose, who took off Friday's match against Bangladesh here to rest a sore bowling shoulder, is ready to return to the West Indies team for tomorrow's critical Group B World Cup encounter with confident New Zealand in Southampton.

Ambrose, the crafty 35-year-old veteran of 162 One-day Internationals and two previous World Cup campaigns, bowled in the nets with no signs of discomfort here yesterday during team practice at the Clontarf Cricket Club where the West Indies had comfortably beaten Bangladesh the day before. ``The problem really is in throwing from the outfield,'' manager Clive Lloyd said. ``He aggravated the shoulder in the match against Pakistan and, with the weather as cold as it was on Friday, we felt it wasn't worth risking any further damage.''

``The New Zealand match is vital and he is ready and keen for that,'' Lloyd said it was unlikely that Keith Arthurton, who sprained his left ankle while fielding in the first match, would be considered fit enough to return against New Zealand. ``He has made very good progress but it would probably be too much of a risk putting him in just yet,'' Lloyd said.

Ambrose and his long-time partner, Courtney Walsh, are key to the West Indies' hopes with their skill with the new white ball and their experience of the typical English early season conditions that have favoured the fast bowlers.

In what is certainly their last World Cup, and in an environment that favours them both physically and technically, they are anxious to enjoy a grand finale.

Ambrose had one for 36 from his 10 overs in the opener against Pakistan, Walsh's 20 overs so far have yielded seven wickets and cost a mere 52 runs. The problem has been their lack of support and the proliferation of wides sent down by the other bowlers in both matches, 48 in all.

Each time, the opposition has been in early trouble but captain Brian Lara has had neither the resources nor the confidence to press home the advantage.

Pakistan were 46 for four after 20 overs and recovered to reach 229 for eight, scoring 127 off the last 20 overs, 83 off the last 10. Lowly Bangladesh were 55 for four in the 23rd over and totalled 182.

The selection of only three main bowlers and the injury that limited Arthurton's usually steady, slow-medium left-arm stuff to one over were handicaps in Bristol. But, in both matches, nothing has been more bothersome than the lack of control once Walsh and Ambrose were taken off.. In the circumstances, captain Brian Lara has been reluctant to try to press home an early advantage with attacking field placing. Instead, he has tended to protect the boundaries to concede the singles and twos once the restrictions are lifted after 15 overs. The New Zealanders have been buoyed by their victory over neighbours and traditional arch-rivals Australia.

They beat the second favourites by five wickets in Cardiff on Thursday.

It followed their expected win over Bangladesh in their opener on Monday and a third triumph over the West Indies, with Pakistan and Scotland to play, would virtually see them through to the second round, the Super Sixes.

A loss would not necessarily eliminate the West Indies whose last two matches are against Scotland in Leicester on Thursday and Australia in Manchester nest Sunday. But it would leave them dependent on the results of other matches.

They fly to Southampton early this morning and, once they get there, will keenly follow on television another critical match in their group, Australia against Pakistan at Headingley.

As things stand, they should be cheering on the Pakistanis.