Profile:
The
career of Wavell Hinds, a powerful opening batsman, is at
something of a cross-roads. He is capable of becoming a fine Test
cricketer, but needs to improve his average from a mediocre 31.
Hinds
stands tall and hits the ball hard. Confident on the back-foot, he
also thumps his drives. Questions about his defensive technique
and temperament remain. When he plays fluently, he looks as good
as most, but is susceptible to throwing his wicket away. He bowls
competent seamers.
Hinds
made his debut for Jamaica in 1996, scoring 34 in a friendly with
Lancashire. He didn't make in back into the side until more than a
year later, with 84 against Barbados.
A
solid 1998 Red Stripe Bowl earned Hinds selection for West Indies
A tour to Bangladesh and India. He scored heavily in India, the
highlight a century against India youth. Returning to the
Caribbean, Hinds' first century for Jamaica came against the
Leeward Islands.
A
successful Busta Cup bought Hinds a ticket to Singapore, where he
struggled in his first ODI. Against Pakistan in Tornonto, Hinds
made 65. Selected for the tour to New Zealand, Hinds found the
going tough.
Though
his form wasn't spectacular, Hinds made his Test debut in 2000,
top-scoring with an unbeaten 46 in a poor performance against
Zimbabwe. The highlight of the tri-series in the Caribbean was a
wonderful 116 in West Indies' win over Pakistan.
Hinds
bought his one-day form into the Test arena, blasting a superb 165
against Pakistan at Bridgetown. He scored heavily throughout the
series, but caused concern when he barged into Saqlain Mushtaq and
was essentially sledged out by Wasim Akram.
Not
surprisingly for such a carefree batsman, Hinds found it difficult
to come to terms with English conditions. He played in all the
Tests on the 2000 tour and scored only one fifty. With poor
performances following in Australia, Hinds rescued his career with
70 at Sydney.
Two
centuries in the Busta Cup kept Hinds in the side for the visit of
South Africa. Four consecutive single-figure scores were too many
though, and he was dropped. Good performances in Kenya kept him in
the one-day side.
Hinds
returned to the Test team in 2002, after scoring 175 for a Busta
XI against the Indians. He hit 65 on his return, then 113 at his
home ground of Kingston, before a string of low scores against New
Zealand put his place in doubt once again.
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