Carl Hooper takes over from Adams
By Ezra Stuart
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (CANA) - The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday ended the week-long suspense by appointing Carl Hooper as captain of the regional team to oppose South Africa in the 2001 Cable and Wireless home series. Hooper, 34, who returned to first-class cricket earlier this year after announcing his retirement from West Indies cricket in 1999, will lead the Windies against Shaun Pollock's South Africans in the first Test in his native Guyana, March 9-13.
The WICB, in a release late yesterday, said its directors approved the recommendation of the selectors of Hooper as captain of the West Indies cricket team at 5.30 p.m. (Eastern Caribbean time).
"The Board wishes to thank outgoing captain, Jimmy Adams, for his contribution and efforts in leading the West Indies team during a very testing period. We wish him the very best in the future," the release said.
Hooper had been recommended by the regional selection panel of Mike Findlay, Joey Carew, Joel Garner and Roger Harper on a majority vote at a lengthy meeting in Guyana on Monday night.
However, the WICB delayed making the announcement until it had received responses from President Pat Rousseau, Vice-President Clarvis Joseph and all its 12 directors.
Hooper, a classy right-handed batsman has been in record-breaking form in the Busta Cricket Series.
The stylish right-handed batsman has so far amassed 889 runs at an average of 97.00 with four centuries in the 2001 Busta Cup Series while he has captured 24 wickets with his off-spin bowling.
Ironically, Hooper will lead Guyana in the Busta Shield final against Jamaica, which is being captained by his predecessor Adams, at Sabina Park from today.
Adams was appointed last year for the home series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan after previous skipper Brian Lara went on a self-imposed exile.
The left-handed Adams had also captained the West Indies on their dismal tours of England and Australia where they were beaten 3-1 and whitewashed 5-0 in the respective five-Test series.
Hooper has played 80 Tests since making his debut against India in 1987.
He has scored 4 153 runs with nine centuries at an average of 33.76 while he has captured 92 wickets at 47.92 runs apiece.
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