Brian Lara is concerned about the prospect of tempting Shamar Joseph away from Test cricket as West Indies ponder the blood of another backstop boy at the Gabba.
The West Indies selectors are thinking deeply about promoting Guyanese batsman and spinner Kevin Sinclair, who grew up not far from first Test sensation Joseph, in the pink-ball Test on Thursday.
Sinclair came from a family so poor that he often went to school hungry, and it was occasional alms from the canteen ladies that kept him from going hungry all day.
Sinclair, who grew up with the corrupt forces of crime and alcohol abuse looming around him, is now trying to use some of his earnings from cricket to make a difference in the lives of children facing the same challenges.
Joseph, who is also from Guyana, is the talk of the cricket world after dismissing Steve Smith with the first ball of his Test career and taking 5-94 in the first innings of the first Test in Adelaide.
White-ball franchises from all over the world are already talking about him and it seems it is only a matter of time before he decides whether he wants to take the white-ball fortunes in the franchise circuit or wants to commit fully to the West Indian cause.
“It's something that worries me,” Fox Cricket's Lara said of Joseph.
“He has made a huge statement. His international career is three days old and he is already the talk of the town. I'm sure there are a lot of scouts looking at him. He has to manage himself. I'm almost sure he has reached this stage playing for the West Indies and that gives the feeling That he would be the kind of player who would enjoy the limelight of a Test match and want more of it.
“Everyone wants to make sure the financial side is secure. I don't think the West Indies board has much control over their players. There will be some temptations there. Some progress. But at this stage I think he likes what he does.”
“His decision can come quickly. This is the law of the land. We as a cricket nation are suffering because the game has evolved. Don't get me wrong, I agree with franchise cricket and the way the game has gone but it should be managed properly with a win-win situation.”
12 noon: Examine seasonal weather threats
Australia will secure a clean sweep of their Test series with the West Indies, and Pat Cummins and his team may need to seal the deal as soon as possible.
The possibility of Tropical Cyclone Kirili disrupting much of the play looms large over the final test of the summer.
From Saturday, monsoon conditions are expected to hit Brisbane, with days three, four and five expected to see a “very high” chance of rain according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Australia's win in the first Test in Adelaide was about to be completed in two days' time, and they will be hoping for a similar quick kill under the lights in a day-night show at the Gabba.
“Batting under the lights is always a challenge when the ball is new, it's always difficult,” Australian batsman Steve Smith said.
Australia are also looking to add to their perfect 11-0 record in pink-ball Tests.
The forecast for Thursday is more promising, with just a 5 per cent chance of rain, rising to 20 per cent on Friday before the weekend deluge hits.
Complicating matters for Australia is that the team is dealing with a coronavirus outbreak, with star midfielders Travis Head and Cameron Green testing positive in recent days – as has coach Andrew McDonald.
Both Head, who has since tested negative, and Green are in danger of missing the Test with Australia naming an unchanged XI from Adelaide's win.
