West Indies set to turn to spin after 25 years of pace

The West Indies are poised to play two frontline spinners in Friday's fourth Test against South Africa for the first time in 25 years.

The last time they fielded more than one specialist spin bowler was 1976 when Raphick Jumadeen, Inshan Ali and Albert Padmore played against India at the Queen's Park Oval. India won after being set a target of 405.

The home side, trailing 1-0 in the series and admitting they are outgunned by South Africa's potent pace attack, look set to hand a debut to Guyanese left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell to partner leg-spinner Dinanath Ramnarine.

It would be a symbolic move, signalling the end of a quarter of a century in which pace bowling reigned supreme in the Caribbean.

Ironically, on Wednesday night, the most successful fast bowling duo in the history of Test cricket were reunited when the retired Curtly Ambrose attended a tribute evening in his honour, with Courtney Walsh among the guests.

With more than 900 wickets between them in their combined Test careers, Walsh and Ambrose carried on the tradition begun by such as Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths and seen through by others like Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall.

With Alan Donald almost certain to miss the Test with a strained hamstring, the tourists are also considering turning to spin by including left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams.

ADJACENT STRIP

The usual Test match pitch at the Recreation Ground, which traditionally favours batsmen, has been overlooked in favour of an adjacent strip believed to help the spinners.

West Indian captain Carl Hooper may still adopt a conservative approach and play himself as the second spinner ahead of McGarrell, who bats well enough to be considered an all rounder.

"There are 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," Hooper told reporters after practice on Wednesday.

South Africa skipper Shaun Pollock expressed satisfaction with the performance of his team throughout the series so far and denied and any possibility they might consider defending their 1-0 lead in the five match series.

"We are going out to win. We enjoy playing positive cricket and we try to win at all times. That's how we will approach the game. We are 1-0 up but we can clinch the series if we win here," Pollock said.

Just to give West Indies an added incentive, a local businessman has pledged US$100,000 to Hooper's team if they win the Test.