Hooper may be back for Windies ---newspaper
by Orin Davidson
Six months after retiring from international cricket former Guyana and West Indies player Carl Hooper is considering a comeback to international competition, reports from Australia state. The Sporting Life daily newspaper of England reported yesterday that the talented allrounder revealed his plans to the Sydney Daily Telegraph daily in Australia. "I've been retired now for six months and I'm slowly finding out I've itchy feet," the newspaper quoted Hooper. "I think I'm still capable of playing international cricket but I'll just see how it goes," he added. The righthander stated that he would make a decision at the end of the Australian season in which he is currently involved playing for Carlton club in the Victorian Cricket Association's Premier League. Thirty-two-year-old Hooper who lives in Adelaide retired abruptly from the West Indies team in April this year during the Cable and Wireless limited overs series against Australia in Barbados. Ex Guyana and West Indies batsman Roy Fredericks said yesterday the news was a pleasant surprise to him. "I think it would be a good idea for Guyana and West Indies if he can come back," the former opener said. "If he can come back and perform for Guyana then it would be easy for him to get back into the West Indies," he added. Fredericks feels that the Guyanese has a lot more cricket within him. "I was shocked when he retired because he is only what--32 years, he is still a young man," Fredericks stated. The Guyana Minister of Sport added that it would not be a backward step by the West Indies Cricket Board to recall Hooper because a player of his calibre is needed to shore up the team's batting. "He has not missed a Test series, it is only a couple of one day competitions and the World Cup he has missed," Fredericks stated. Immediately after announcing his retirement Hooper had stated his desire to return soon to the region to give something back to the game by representing Guyana in a domestic competition. Early last month Guyana Cricket Board president Chetram Singh had stated that there is a possibility of Hooper representing Guyana in next year's Busta Cup competition. Singh said Hooper informed his former teammate and compatriot Shivnarine Chanderpaul during the Singapore tournament in September of his interest in playing in the Busta Cup. Hooper played 80 Tests and scored 4.153 runs at an average of 33.73 per innings. He also claimed 93 wickets averaging 47.01.
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