Windies sent into new nose-dive by 49-year-old

It is unlikely that Wavell Hinds's nose has come under particular international scrutiny during his short career.

The West Indian's proboscis -- or rather the manner of its breaking -- was worth some study this week as it provided a useful reflection of the current state of Caribbean cricket.

The 25-year-old Hinds, once touted as a future star to rival the Laras and the Hoopers, was batting without a helmet in a festival game in Jamaica when, his confidence in his own ability dangerously misplaced, the left-hander was hit flush in the face.

Innocuous enough, perhaps, until it emerged that Hinds, who needed surgery following the incident and was unable to set off with the West Indies touring party to Sri Lanka, had been surprised for pace by a grey-haired 49-year-old.

By the name of Joel Garner.

Things must seem gloomy when a future prospect can be put in hospital by a bowler long since retired from the international arena.

To add blushes to the bruises, Garner is a West Indies selector.

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot, particularly with the West Indian batting heading for Sri Lanka already so vulnerable, with Jimmy Adams exiled, Brian Lara struggling to get on the pitch and Shivnarine Chanderpaul sidelined with injury.

Last season was bad enough, with the once-mighty West Indies suffering a 5-0 test whitewash in Australia.

Their one-day form has offered scant consolation. Earlier this week, former board president Pat Rousseau warned that the team could prove an embarrassment at the 2003 World Cup.

Muscle Strain

There have been a few other recent cricket injury reports, incidentally, with interesting subtexts.

Allan Donald's omission with a stomach muscle strain from South Africa's squad to take on India sounded fairly routine at first. He would be ready to take on the world champion Australians at the end of the year, he suggested.

Yet the 35-year-old quick is beginning to look ever more past tense than future, let alone present.

Donald's last international appearance of any sort dates back to May. His test future is doubtful at best.

The ailments -- it was flu which kept him out of the previous tour to Zimbabwe -- mount up, as do the doubts over whether the South African will be able to fulfill his farewell dream of appearing in the 2003 World Cup.

And what of Steve Waugh's travails?

He was hailed an archetypal Australian Hard Man when opting to play with a suspect calf muscle in the final Ashes test in England just over two months ago.

Never mind that Australia had already wrapped up the series. Never mind that it was an opportunity to give younger players a run. Never mind that aggravating the injury -- no small risk at the age of 36 -- seemed more probable than possible.

Waugh, though, marched on, hogging headlines as he limped to a five-hour 157 not out at The Oval. Heroic, theatrical stuff.

Since when he's suffered from deep vein thrombosis in the same calf and not played a game.

The words discretion and valour spring to mind.

Mail Cricket Editor