Hooper surprised at McKenzie omission
Source: Supercricket - September 09, 2002

West Indies captain Carl Hooper added to the mounting pressure on national selection convenor Omar
Henry over his treatment of Neil McKenzie by admitting he was surprised at the talented Titans Batsman's absence from the South African team. Speaking at a press conference in Colombo on Monday Hooper was asked whether he thought the South African team of 2002 was weaker than the national sides of a couple of seasons ago.

"You have lost a couple of key players since then," Hooper said. "There is no Cullinan and I see that
McKenzie is not playing, for some reason," Hooper said with raised eyebrows.

Hooper's surprise at McKenzie's omission has been matched by a number of high profile cricket people in recent weeks, all of which has fuelled a rumour bushfire which would have us believe McKenzie's axeing has more to do with personality differences with team mates and management than ability on the field.

Shaun Pollock has clearly been worn down by the persistancy of the rumours while Henry angrily denied them and claimed they would "be investigated." All of which is irrelevant to Hooper who knows, like Pollock, the winner of their opening match in the ICC Champions Trophy on Friday is all but guaranteed a place in the semi-finals with Kenya the third team in the group.

"I believe we're strong enough to match South Africa. It's going to be an intense game, it's like a final. No disrespect to Kenya but we should both beat them so whoever wins that first game will be in the semi finals."

If Hooper has one factor in his favour more important than any other, on current form at least, it is almost certainly the inclusion of Vasbert Drakes, star of South African domestic cricket for five straight years but always ineligible for selection by the West Indies because of a stringent policy of choosing strictly from players competing in a full domestic schedule of fixtures.

"The Board has finally changed that policy and that's great news for West Indies cricket. Vasbert has gained a lot of experience playing in England and South Africa and, apart from his bowling, he will offer stability to the middle order," Hooper said.