Oval Pitch 'The Best'

In Kingston captain Carl Hooper and coach Roger Harper have held up the Kensington Oval pitch for the second Test of the recent Cable & Wireless Series as an example of what is needed at all levels of West Indies cricket.

They were endorsements that are likely to earn the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) US$10 000 incentive for the best pitch and outfield of the series for Hendy Davis and his ground staff.

The initial award, introduced last year for the series against South Africa, went to Sabina Park.

I think the Barbados wicket was the best we played on [in the series], Hooper said after the West Indies won the fifth and final Test at Sabina Park on Monday to clinch the series 2-1.

If we could have wickets like the Barbados wicket, or close to it, in our Busta Cup cricket, it'll go a long way to developing our young cricketers, he added.

Harper agreed. We need more pitches of that nature, he said.

Harper thought the WICB was fully aware of the need for better pitches.

We just have to make sure we get the right personnel who are very capable to preparing the sort of pitches that will encourage better cricket, he said.

Comparing the pitches at Kensington and at Sabina for the last Test, where the West Indies won their two Tests, both captain and coach agreed the former was more consistent.

I thought the Barbados wicket was a better cricket wicket than this one here, Hooper said. A lot of cracks opened on this one and there were a few occasions when I thought it was instrumental in a batsman's dismissal.

He cited Rahul Dravid's lbw in India's first innings as an example.

The ball kept low and cut back, he said. It was a key dismissal.

Harper gave kudos to the Sabina pitch for the final Test, describing it as a very good cricketing pitch.