BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA: West Indies have included their fastest Bowler Patrick Patterson in their squad for the first Cricket test against Australia,
Patterson, who has taken 47 wickets at a cost of 28.81 in 13 tests, wins selection ahead of Winston Benjamin who lacks his team mate’s pace but was favored to win a test place because of his greater control.
Patterson joins fellow pace men Malcolm Marshall, Curtly Ambrose and Couriney Walsh in West Indies 12. All seem certain to play on a Gabba pitch which usually has plenty of bounce and movement.
All-rounder Rogere Harper seems the most likely 12th man, giving Richie Richardson another chance to secure his test place.
Richardson averaged only 18 before being dropped after three tests against England this year and he has scored only 115 runs from five innings on the Australian tour.
But Richardson 26 remains fine player on hard pitches and he was confident on Friday that he would perform well in his 37th test.
“My confidence is coming back,” Richardson said, “Tests bring out the best in me because I like the big occasion.
Australian coach Bobby Simpson said the home side could not afford to become intimidated by the powerful West Indian team.
“You’ve got to be positive but even more so against the West Indies,” Simpson said.
“Over the past few years they have won matches because many teams were defeated before they even arrived at the middle. But our team is in a good state of mind and confident that they can do exceptionally well here.”
Article extracted from this publication >> November 25, 1988
