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The time will inevitably come when West Indies cricket will awake from its present, prolonged nightmare. But, for the moment, it remains constantly dreadful.

Tuesday's news that Shivnarine Chanderpaul would not, after all, be fit enough for tomorrow's Second Cable & Wireless Test at Sabina Park, that Carl Hooper would not be back from Australia in time and that Curtly Ambrose was carrying an inflamed knee was followed yesterday by a fresh injury.

Fast bowler Reon King, who was a possible starter in view of the continuing doubt over Ambrose, fell heavily on his shoulder during practice and was ruled out of the match after a medical examination. The selectors immediately called for Corey Collymore, who had been omitted from the squad of 15 for the First Test only a day earlier.

The 22-year-old Barbadian has impressed knowledgeable judges in his debut season in which he has taken 24 wickets in his first five first-class matches and, if required, he should not noticeably weaken the bowling.

While King was away at the doctor's, Ambrose was putting his suspect knee to a reality test and Australian captain Steve Waugh was examining the pitch and coming to a conclusion guaranteed to bring a sparkle to the eyes of his two leg-spinners, Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill.

Team trainer Dennis Waight declared himself satisfied with Ambrose's workout.

``He bowled in the nets, if not flat out, and did several sprints,'' Waight said. ``He hasn't had any adverse reaction and the swelling in the knee has disappeared. We'll see how he goes after another workout in the morning but he looks as if he'll be quite alright.''

Waugh delivered an ominous report on the pitch.

``Unless I'm a bad judge, it is going to turn square,'' he said. ``I think it's going to be bouncy on the first day but it's only a matter of time before it starts spinning big time.''

The square at Sabina Park was dug up and relaid last year following the abandonment after an hour of the First Test against England because umpires David Shepherd and Steve Bucknor and match referee Barry Jarman, the former Australian wicket-keeper, deemed it too dangerous.

It favoured the spinners in the three Busta Cup matches this season with off-spinners Nehemiah Perry of Jamaica and Mukesh Persad of Trinidad and Tobago and leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo each claiming 10 wickets in a match.

Perry is certain to play his First Test at the age of 30 in his 13th season of regional cricket. He has had an encouraging season, with 30 wickets in the six Busta Cup matches, and will be supported by his fellow Jamaican Jimmy Adams, whose occasional left-arm spin earned him two wickets in Australia's second innings of the First Test. But they do not carry nearly the same threat as Warne, Test cricket's most prolific spin bowler, and MacGill who reached 50 wickets in Port of Spain in only his ninth Test.

Waugh's talk, of course, could well be all bluff. Pitch supervisor, Patrick Gordon, promised a ``well balanced pitch that is going to give you a good game of cricket'' and Jamaica Board president Jackie Hendriks said ``it looks a good pitch to me. The bounce is good,'' he added. ``I have no complaints.''

Then again, we were being told much the same thing just over a year ago. Sabina was the scene of Australia's innings victory in the final Test in 1995 that clinched the series 2-1 and regained for them the Frank Worrell Trophy after a break of 18 years. Steve Waugh accumulated his highest Test score, an even 100, and his twin brother Mark 126, sharing a partnership of 231.

Another victory to follow their crushing 312-run triumph in the First Test would retain the Trophy they won again in the teams' last meeting in Australia two years ago. Even Bombay bookmakers would be reluctant to offer odds on them achieving it.