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Nairobi: South African provincial teams are eager to contract West Indians who played against the South Africa "A" team on their recent tour of the Caribbean for their 2000-2001 season.

Marlon Black, the big, 25-year-old fast bowler, has attracted the interest of KwaZulu-Natal, and leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine, his Trinidad and Tobago teammate, has reportedly been approached by Boland.

Both are definite candidates for the West Indies tour of Australia from November 7 to February 7. Their response to any offers would depend on whether they are selected or, if not, on how they see their future in West Indies cricket.

A season in South Africa would effectively keep them out of next season’s Busta Cup, full participation in which is a prerequisite for selection to the Test team.

South African cricket writer Patrick Compton, son of the late England batting great Dennis Compton and here for the current ICC Knockout Trophy tournament, said here yesterday Black had impressed South Africa "A" captain Dale Benkenstein, who also leads KwaZulu-Natal.

"The province is looking for a quick bowler and, of all those he saw in the West Indies, Dale was excited by Black’s pace and penetration,"Compton said. "He was certainly the fastest of the bowlers he came across."

Compton sought out former Trinidad and Tobago captain and Test fast bowler Ian Bishop for his opinion on Black. Bishop is part of the television commentary team for the ICC Knockout Trophy.

Black, who stands six feet four inches, took only four wickets at 38 runs each in the two "A" Tests but had four for 17 from his ten overs in his only representative One-Day match, removing the first three wickets cheaply.

Restricted by injury, he had only one match in last season’s Busta Cup but has been recognised for his pace since coming into the Trinidad and Tobago team at the age of 21.

Ramnarine had two successful Tests against England in the West Indies in 1998 but a shoulder injury kept him out of action for nine months before his return in last year’s Red Stripe Bowl. He had 11 wickets in three Busta Cup matches for Trinidad and Tobago last season and six, at an average of 28, in the two "A" Tests against the South Africans.

The WICB regulation excluding from consideration any player who does not play in all Busta Cup matches, except on grounds of injury or other extentuating circumstances, has become a burning issue since Desmond Haynes was omitted from the Test team in 1995.

Haynes, the West Indies’ fifth highest scorer in Tests, missed Barbados first match of the then Red Stripe Cup after returning from playing for Western Province in South Africa. He has since sued the WICB in a case that still has not been resolved.

All-rounder Vasbert Drakes, who has also been precluded from West Indies selection while playing for Border in South Africa for the past three seasons, is also set to have his case resolved by the court.

© The Barbados Nation