CRICKET: Hooper's international exit

CARL HOOPER has announced his retirement from international cricket, only three weeks before the start of the World Cup.

The enigmatic West Indies all-rounder informed the West Indies Cricket Board of his decision before the seventh and final one-day match against Australia at Kensington Oval yesterday.

His retirement compels West Indies to amend their World Cup plans. The WICB will ask the International Cricket Council's technical committee for permission to draft a replacement into their squad.

Hooper was unavailable to comment on the reasons behind his announcement, but the West Indies manager, Clive Lloyd, said the veteran of 80 tests and 183 one-day internationals was no longer enjoying his cricket.

"It came as a shock to all of us seeing that we have only one game left here and this is the same squad that will be going to the World Cup," Lloyd said. "We are very disappointed - to replace someone like Carl Hooper is not easy because I think he's a class batsman and probably one of the finest batsmen around when he's on.

"It took us by surprise but we just have to get on with it," Lloyd said, adding that Hooper had given him no reasons for his decision. "It's a bit unfortunate, but it will give someone else a chance to display his talents at the World Cup."

The Guyana-born 32-year-old all-rounder missed the opening two Tests of the recent four-match series against Australia because he was Down Under with his wife and newly born son, who was ill. He returned to the Caribbean for the final two Tests and confirmed that he wanted to play in the World Cup, but appeared to be lacking fitness and commitment and produced a series of mediocre displays on his return.

Hooper, at his best an elegant strokemaker with a sound technique as well as being a useful off-spinner, made his Test debut against India at Bombay in the 1987-88 series. He scored 4,153 Test runs at an average of 33.76, with an unbeaten 178 the highest of his nine centuries. He took 93 Test wickets at an average of 47.01, with a best of five for 26.

Despite gracing the Test arena with some handsome innings, he never quite fulfilled his immense potential at Test level, as his figures indicate.

Hooper has spent five successful seasons on the English county circuit with Kent, making his debut in 1992 and becoming a popular and respected player. He scored more than 1,000 runs in County Championship matches in each of his five summers with the county.

Hooper was born on 15 December 1966, in Georgetown, Guyana, and was first chosen for Guyana in the West Indies' domestic first-class competition in 1984.

By 1991 he was a member of West Indies' squad for the World Cup in Australia that was won by Pakistan.

In 1993, Hooper made his highest first-class score, 236 not out, against Glamorgan at Canterbury. The same year, he also won the AXA Equity & Law Award for his all-round contributions in the one-day league.

Last year he recorded his best first-class bowling figures - seven for 93 against Surrey at The Oval. With Kent mindful of his apparent World Cup commitments for this summer, he was released at the end of the season.