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Carl Hooper's place in the West Indies team for next week's first Test against Australia has been thrown into considerable doubt.

The long-serving 32-year-old all-rounder has informed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) that he is so worried about his new-born son's health he will not be returning from Adelaide, Australia, as instructed, to play for the President's XI against the Australians at Guaracara Park. That match will be the last before the March 5-9 Test.

Hooper has been in Adelaide with his Australian wife and three-week-old son since November 10 following the South African tour on which he was vice-captain.

He was permitted by the WICB to miss Guyana's last two Busta Cup matches but told he would have to turn out for the President's XI to qualify for Test selection.

``Carl called on Tuesday to report on his son's condition and to advise that, in the circumstances, he was unable to leave Australia at this time,'' WICB chief executive Stephen Camacho said yesterday.

``I asked him to outline the position in writing and fax it so that it could be considered by the board and the selectors.''

Camacho said last week that chief selector Mike Findlay requested Hooper's presence in the President's XI so that his form and fitness could be assessed.

Hooper is the latest player whose availability is in question.

Captain Brian Lara has been unable to play in Trinidad and Tobago's last two Busta Cup matches because of a chipped bone just above his right wrist, inflicted by a ball from Jacques Kallis during the third One-Day International in South Africa.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul has also been sidelined since the South African tour by a torn muscle in his right shoulder. Camacho said yesterday he had not received a recent report on his condition.

Veteran fast bowler Courtney Walsh flew to New York yesterday for a check-up by WICB specialist Dr. Answorth Allen on knee and hamstring injuries sustained in South Africa.

Walsh's former Melbourne Club, Jamaica and West Indies team-mate Michael Holding reported yesterday that Walsh had been training and practising regularly and was fit. But he would not play in this weekend's Busta Cup semifinal against Barbados at Kensington Oval.

In Hooper's absence, Keith Arthurton, the 34-year-old left-handed veteran of 33 Tests and 98 One-Day Internationals, has been made captain of the squad of 13 from which the President's XI will be chosen.

The simultaneous Busta Cup semifinal at Kensington Oval over the weekend has eliminated players from Barbados and Jamaica.

The 13 from whom the President's XI will be chosen:

Keith Arthurton (captain), Dave Joseph (Leeward Islands); Suruj Ragoonath, Daren Ganga, Lincoln Roberts, Denis Rampersad, Marlon Black, Mukesh Persad (Trinidad and Tobago); Wayne Philip, Rawl Lewis, Nixon McLean (Windward Islands), Reon King, Ramnaresh Sarwan (Guyana).