South Africa trio compete for Donald's place
Allan Donald watched the three bowlers fighting for his place in South Africa's test team undergo stringent net sessions on Wednesday.
With paceman Donald extremely unlikely to play against West Indies due to a strained right hamstring and buttock, Andre Nel, Justin Kemp and Paul Adams were in action for an hour apiece.
Nel is the obvious choice for the fourth test starting on Friday although his inexperience may count against him with the five-match series finely balanced at 1-0 to South Africa.
South Africa are bidding to become only the second touring team to win in the Caribbean in the last 27 years.
All-rounder Kemp, as fast as most and impressive in his solitary test against Sri Lanka in South Africa two months ago, may be a more likely choice.
He ripped a hole the size of a golf ball in his left ankle during a boating accident in Barbados 10 days ago but can bowl without problems now.
"I went for over an hour and, although I can feel it, the pain wasn't that bad. They breed them tough where I come from," Kemp said.
SPECULATION
West Indies have selected Guyanese left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell alongside leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine, prompting speculation that the Recreation Ground pitch will favour slow bowlers.
This means that South Africa could recall unorthodox spinner Adams to compliment slow left-armer Nicky Boje.
Adams last played a test nine months ago. But, with 94 wickets from 34 games, the South Africans know he can be a match winner.
Team physiotherapist Craig Smith said of Donald: "If there is any doubt about his fitness in the next couple of days then we would rather keep him for the fifth test in Jamaica.
"It's no better than 50-50 at this stage."
South Africa captain Shaun Pollock, buoyed by his team's success in the second test in Port of Spain, is determined to finish the job.
"We enjoy playing positive cricket. We try and win at all times. That's how we will approach the game," he said.
West Indies counterpart Carl Hooper needs a better all-round effort from his team after some mediocre bowling, several dropped catches and a batting collapse in the second innings of Monday's draw in Barbados.
"I don't think we have been batting too badly at all during the tour. We have put a number of good scores together," he said.
"Not big scores by individuals but we have been fairly consistent. We had two hiccups ...and it is something we have got to address.
"There are other little areas we have got to look at and try to improve. The batting is only one of them but certainly the bowling and catching are two others."
West Indies squad:
Carl Hooper, Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels, Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ridley Jacobs, Courtney Walsh, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Dinanath Ramnarine, Neil McGarrell.
