Vasbert Drakes: Danger Man

Vasbert Drakes, the West Indies fast bowler, agrees that his performances for Border in South Africa did not go unnoticed and he is in fact convinced that it landed him a spot in the final West Indies World Cup squad.

"The things I achieved here (in South Africa) definitely counted in my favour. It was an experience like no other. I have spent almost more than half of my career in South Africa and had the chance to play good cricket and learn a lot at the same time," the 33-year old Drakes said.

Apart from the respect he commands with his continuous successes for Border, his knowledge of local conditions as well as of South Africa's players could also have played a big part in his selection.

"Both factors will indeed be assets for our match strategies," he said. When asked whether it was a well thought out plan from the West Indies to plant him here to get him familiar with local conditions, he just laughed and said there was not much truth in such a proposition.

Drakes played for Border from 1996 up to the end of the recent season. He also played county cricket for Sussex (1996-97), Nottinghamshire (1999) and Warwickshire (2000).

Drakes played a handful of one-day matches for the West Indies against Australia in 1995. That same year he went on tour with them to England but did not get any chances on the field.

He says he was disappointed when he failed to make the team again and then came to South Africa to play for Border where he made his mark anew. In the 1999/2000 season he was even named one of the five players of the year in South Africa.

Drakes made his Test debut on the West Indies tour to Bangladesh at the end of 2002 and was also in action for the West Indies in their first match in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, coincidentally against South Africa.

Can the West Indies beat South Africa next Sunday?

"Definitely. When playing in such a tournament you have to be mentally convinced that you can win. You have to believe that you can sweep away any opponent.

"At the same time South Africa are a good team that also believe in themselves and they are playing at home. It would be more a matter of how we execute our strategies," he said.

Drakes does not yet know whether he will be in the eleven that will take on South Africa in the opening match.

As is the case with many other bowlers, Kingsmead in Durban is his favourite ground. According to Drakes the same cannot be said of Newlands where the opening match will be played.

"Over the past few seasons batsmen have not mind playing there. Bowlers did not really look forward to bowling there because they prepare good batting wickets," Drakes said.

* SOURCE: News24, South Africa.