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Namibia turn to Dougie of the desert

Iain Fletcher
Sunday 02 February 2003 01:00 GMT
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In the oppressive heat between the Kalahari and Namib deserts, where temperatures frequently exceed 40 degrees centigrade, two of cricket's minnows recently finished their preparations for the World Cup with a five-match series. The results were most encouraging for Bangladesh – a 4-1 scoreline is always impressive and good for the morale – but Namibia, and in particular their English coach Dougie Brown, were almost equally pleased, although just a little annoyed as well.

"I wanted to pull my hair out at times," is how the Warwickshire and former England all-rounder described it. "The matches we lose that we should by all rights win hold us back, but it happens because we don't yet have the experience."

The dust of the African desert is as far removed from the green, green grass of Edgbaston as can be imagined, so how on earth did a Scot, with nine caps for England, all awarded before the previous World Cup, ever arrive in south-west Africa? "Last summer Bob Woolmer [then Warwickshire's coach] suggested it would be a good challenge to take a country to the World Cup and I know he thinks a lot of the potential of Namibia and I thought it would be a great experience – and it has been."

One that could make him bald, though. "We are learning at the moment," he acknowledged in defence of his players – and with something of an echo of the Nasser Hussain-Duncan Fletcher mantra in Australia. "In one match we were cruising at 235 for 3, chasing 277 and somehow lost by getting bowled out. That is criminal but we are a very young squad, most are 22 or under and you only learn how to close games out by doing it in matches."

In that regard an invitation to play in South Africa's domestic one-day floodlit competition, the Standard Bank Trophy, was vital. It was only for the single season but there are hopes in Namibia that it will be extended.

"We may have lost all five before Christmas," Brown said, "but it was invaluable for us. In only one of the matches were we thumped, and not once did we have the better of the conditions. We lost every toss and had to bat under the lights every time. This is not an excuse, it is something that is really difficult in South Africa as I think most countries will find out.

"What was good, though, was in four out of the five we were ahead on points halfway through," he continued. "We have a tall quickie in Gerrie Snyman, he can bowl in the 140s kph and gets bounce, so he could shake a few, and our fielding is normally brilliant.

"In fact, we may well be one of the best fielding sides in the whole tournament, but our batting can be naïve. We have some good players, but we don't chase targets well. Again we need experience." Albeit with the occasional drubbing, that is what they will get, although no one realistically expects many, if any victories.

"No, we are there to compete and learn but the benefits of the World Cup will be felt in Namibia for years," said Brown. "The buzz and interest is huge. Having the Cup next door has helped in that respect and cricket is really thriving in Namibia. You know, 2,500 turned up to watch each match against Bangladesh. There may only be four clubs but we have under 13s, 15s and 17s playing cricket. Mark my words, as a group of kids the under-13s are the most talented bunch I have ever seen. The enthusiasm is fantastic at the moment but what we and the International Cricket Council must do is build on this and develop it."

To that end plans have been drawn up, in conjunction with the ICC, for a modern indoor facility to allow cricket to be played all year round and the tentative beginnings of an academy.

"If we can get the infrastructure right then we can really start to develop," said Brown. "The ingredients are there. They love the game, the youngsters want to play the game, a big Test nation is next door and accommodating, the ICC are keen and the Namibian union are trying to continue the recent progress we have made. This time we have nothing to lose, but by the next World Cup in 2007 we should be going to win games, to shock a few."

Until then it is the heat of Brett Lee that they have to endure and from 22 yards that may be a little hotter even than the desert.

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