Natal's search for a fast bowler extends beyond South Africa

Natal's search for a fast bowler for next season is extending beyond the boundaries of South Africa as the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union look to remedy the team's main weakness of the 1999/2000 campaign.

Sub-continental fast bowling legends Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram and Javagal Srinath have all been approached, as has Ottis Gibson, the 31- year-old West Indian who has toiled away for the last two seasons under the hot Kimberley sun on the most perfect of batting pitches at the De Beers Diamond Oval fast bowlers' graveyard.

Cassim Docrat, the chief executive officer of the KZNCU, confirmed Wednesday that Srinath, Akram and Waqar had all shown interest in signing for Natal. 'An interest has been shown by all three, but we first have to ascertain their availability. We had heard that they would be retiring from international cricket, but this has not yet happened and their itineraries for next season are not yet certain. It is very likely that they will have international commitments and we don't want someone for part of the season - it has to be for the full season,' Docrat said Wednesday. 'But the doors are still open and once their availability for the whole season is confirmed, we can talk money.'

Gibson, who has done well at Kingsmead in the past and has the advantage of five seasons in South African domestic cricket with Border and Griquas, would seem a more likely prospect as the overseas professional and his signing would meet with the approval of Dale Benkenstein, who has been confirmed as Natal captain for next season.

'Knowing the West Indians, they always give you total commitment and make the best pros,' Benkenstein said Wednesday. 'If you look at the teams who have dominated the SuperSport Series in the last two seasons, they've both had a West Indian taking over 50 wickets (Vasbert Drakes for Border and Kenny Benjamin for Gauteng). It's true that fast bowlers win you matches, while batsmen save them. You only have to look at Boland winning the Standard Bank Cup, mostly because of their bowling attack.

'I'm sure Ottis is not very happy being based in Kimberley, where the pitch is so flat the bowlers take a hammering all the time. I think he's down to 5'3 now from bowling himself into the ground,' Benkenstein added. Although the KZNCU has been feeling the financial squeeze in recent years, Docrat said the union were very keen to sign an overseas professional, last season's acquistion, Eldine Baptiste, now qualifying as a local player after eight seasons with Eastern Province.

'We have the opportunity to look for a fast bowler who can bat a bit and we are very keen to sign someone. We have the ways and means of paying the required money,' the CEO said.

Former Gauteng paceman Keith Ingram has already confirmed he wishes to make his home in Durban, while the 40-year-old Baptiste has indicated that he will play another season. If Gibson were to join his Caribbean colleague, it would continue a long tradition of West Indians playing in Durban - stretching all the way from Collis King and Hartley Alleyne to the late Malcolm Marshall, who did much to establish the current generation of Natal players in the national team.