Mervyn Dillon

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Merv Dillon is learning to lead the West Indian attack. Potentially the best seamer in the Caribbean by a distance, the right-armer approaches the wicket with the same easy grace of Courtney Walsh. He is capable of getting genuine bounce and, with disciplined lines, will take hundreds of Test wickets. Assuming he remains free from injury, he should be guaranteed an extended spell in the West Indies team.

Of course, there is much still to do for the 27-year-old Trinidadian. He still relies too much on the short ball and an accompanying stare. The over-use of both negates their menace. Dillon is athletic in the field, and a solid, defensive tail-ender occasionally given to acts of ferocity with the bat.

Dillon made his first-class debut in 1997, bowling three no-balls in his first over. Despite these initial indiscretions, Trinidad continued to give their youngster the new ball. He picked up wickets steadily, and impressed so much with his determination, that he was selected for the West Indies the same year.

He picked up three wickets in his first Test, but struggled to keep his place. He was brought back into the side at the end of the year, and collected his first five-wicket haul against Pakistan. It was, according to the Dawn, "a dream sell". Dillon missed the 1998 Test series with England, but returned for the ODIs, with 3/32 helping West Indies to a win.

Dillon's one-day form remained solid for the ICC KnockOut Trophy in Bangladesh, though he was particularly wayward in the Test series with South Africa which followed. Ruled out of the Test team, Dillon grabbed 4/20 in front of his home crowd in a losing ODI. The performance, The Trinidad Express said, was "stunning".

Dillon missed 15 consecutive Test matches, but continued to bowl accurately in the shorter form of the game. The highlight was 5/51 against India at Toronto, his best figures to date.

Eventually returning to the Test team late in 2000, Dillon totalled 16 wickets in the series with Australia. Whilst not spectacular, his form remained constant. It was not until the 2002 series with India that Dillon first led the attack with confidence. With 23 wickets in five Tests, Dillon was instrumental in the series win. Eight wickets in the third Test secured a first Man of the Match award.