Is Dillon The Real Deal?

Wed, May 8, '02

West Indian cricket has been at its lowest ebb for over 30 years in the past 12 months.
Following the retirement of stalwarts Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, the last sticking plaster keeping the Caribbean side together was removed.

A shortage of quality successors for the great fast bowling pair made dismissing a side twice a difficult prospect. Several pretenders fell by the wayside as the West Indies desperately sought a a new spearhead.

Many people's favourite Nixon McLean dropped away and is currently playing in South Africa.

The quickest of all, Reon King, suffered a series of injuries which have seen him play only two Tests in the past 18 months.

Others to be given their chance include Colin Stuart, Kerry Jeremy, Marlon Black, Corey Collymore and the current attack, featuring Cameron Cuffy, Adam Sanford and Pedro Collins.

The relative rock in this storm has been Merv Dillon.

The Trindadian paceman has also had his injury problems but has for the most part stood above the rest of the attack who have rotated with alarming regularity.

During that time Dillon has been solid if unspectacular. In fact he has still yet to beat his best figures of five for 111 against Pakistan in 1997.

However, he still averages 3.75 wickets per Test, a figure that compares favourably with England's Andy Caddick (3.77).

Against India at Barbados, Dillon began to show signs that he may be making the breakthrough from stock to strike bowler with an incisive display.

He received criticism after the defeat in the second Test at his home ground of Port-of-Spain, when he was overshadowed by Cuffy.

Nevertheless his response at Bridgetown emphasised his position as at least the best of average bunch. He set the tone with the very first ball of the match, knocking over Indian opener Shiv Sunder Das.

However, it was his dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar in the second innings for just eight which really slammed the door on the tourists.

Dillon will be 28 this year and should be approaching his prime.

Although not the quickest strike bowler in world cricket, he is noted for achieving useful bounce and hitting the seam regularly.

If he continues to be successful in this series, it could be the turning point for both him and his team.

Yet despite the performance in Bridgetown, both Dillon and the team remain vulnerable.

There is still an apparent lack of confidence exhibited both by the bowlers and their captain which was evident once more when India began their second innings.

Despite being almost 300 runs behind, a lack of killer instinct allowed India to get away to a positive start despite the undoubted pressure they should have been under.

The series moves on to Antigua next, where another true, bouncy surface is likely to be on offer.

It remains to be seen whether Dillon and his colleagues can take advantage as they did at Barbados, or whether they will return to the inconsistency which has dogged them over the past two years.

* SOURCE: BBC Sports Online