CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

One shock follows another as the tormented West Indies try to sort themselves out for the second Cable & Wireless Test, starting at Sabina Park on Saturday.

Already traumatised by their all-out 51 and their massive first Test defeat on Monday, they learned yesterday that they would again have to do without Shivnarine Chanderpaul, one of their only two genuine world-class batsmen in the Caribbean at present.

At the same time, the selectors were assessing the state of Curtly Ambrose's inflamed knee and awaiting word from Carl Hooper from Australia of when, if ever, he would be back (see also Page 34A).

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) chief executive Stephen Camacho confirmed last night that Chanderpaul's return, confidently anticipated after he scored 93 in a club match in Georgetown last weekend, had been further delayed.

Ligaments in his right shoulder, torn from a minor dislocation during the recent South African tour, have still not healed sufficiently to give him full mobility.

``Medical opinion in Georgetown is that he is not yet ready and it would be foolhardy for him to rush it,'' Camacho said. ``There is more than a fortnight to the third Test in Barbados (starting March 26) and he should be ready for that.''

Ambrose went through tests on his knee at Mount Hope Medical Centre in Trinidad yesterday, was treated and pronounced fit enough to play on Saturday. But his repeated injuries and ailments are increasing signs that, at 35, his celebrated career is nearing its end.

Camacho said Hooper had called him from Adelaide in the early hours of yesterday morning to inform him that he was awaiting a doctor's report on his seriously ill three-week-old son, due on Friday. He would then make a decision on whether he could return for the remainder of the series.

Hooper has been with his Australian wife, Connie, during their son's illness since the end of the South African tour on February 8. He was given compassionate dispensation by the WICB to miss the Busta Cup matches in which participation is otherwise mandatory for Test selection.

There were radio reports out of Port-of-Spain during the day stating that Ambrose was injured and unavailable and that Jamaican off-spinner Nehemiah Perry and Chanderpaul had been included.

Reports put them in place of fast bowler Merv Dillon, who played in the first Test; Phil Simmons, who only fielded as substitute; and the injured Roland Holder, who strained a ligament in his left ankle of the first day, was replaced by Simmons and had to bat with a runner.

Different reports indicated that Trinidad and Tobago batsman Daren Ganga, who played three Tests in South Africa, had been called in to replace Chanderpaul. But Camacho said he had received no word from the selectors about the 13 for Sabina.

The players are scheduled to fly to Kingston early this morning and decisions as to who would travel and where would have to be made overnight.

If the speculation is correct, Perry would get his first call-up to Test duty at the age of 30 after 13 seasons of regional cricket. He has been a consistent, if not spectacular, performer and enjoyed a productive Busta Cup with 30 wickets in Jamaica's six matches. A tall right-hander with a first-class average of 22, he would also be a reputable No. 8 or, indeed, No. 5 or 6 in the current circumstances.

Dillon did not bowl impressively in the first Test but his immediate exclusion would be a surprise. If Corey Collymore is retained in the 13 it would be confirmation that the 22-year-old Barbadian fast bowler, who has made a tremendous impact on knowledgeable observers in his debut first-class season, is close to his first Test.

No team had been officially announced up to late last night but these were the 13 names emanating from Trinidad where the selectors met:

Brian Lara (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Suruj Ragoonath, Dave Joseph, Daren Ganga, Jimmy Adams, Ridley Jacobs, Nehemiah Perry, Curtly Ambrose, Pedro Collins, Courtney Walsh, Reon King and Corey Collymore.