The Independent Voice of West Indies Cricket
A lower back injury has ruled fast bowler Merv Dillon out of the
crucial second and final Test against New Zealand which starts
Friday in Grenada.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) did not name a replacement,
opting to go with the same squad that lost the first Test in
Barbados earlier this week.
In the face of heated criticism about the manner in which
middle-order batsman Ramna-resh Sarwan was twice dismissed in the
first Test against New Zealand, West Indies? captain Carl Hooper
and coach Roger Harper have urged members of the media not to be
too harsh in condemning the young, gifted Guyanese.
Sarwan, who celebrated his 22nd birthday during the match which the
Black Caps won by 204 runs, was out for a first-ball 'duck' and 18
in the second innings, to ill-advised cross-batted pulled shots
from short deliveries.
He emphasised that it was not an excuse, but Carl Hooper again
referred to fatigue by some of the key players in his squad in the
aftermath of the 204-run loss to New Zealand here yesterday.
"I think there's been a lot of debate about whether we're tired.
It's no defence but we do have some tired legs," said the West
Indies captain. "I'm not justifying that as the reason why we lost.
I just think we probably didn't adapt properly from the one-dayers
to the Test. We've got to consider it as a learning experience and
push this behind us."
New Zealand recorded their first victory over the West Indies in
the Caribbean, winning their 12th encounter in convincing fashion
by a massive 204 runs with a day to spare at the Kensington Oval
here yesterday to take a 1-0 unassailable lead in the two-match
Cable & Wireless series.
Set the mammoth task of recording the highest ever total, 474, to
win a Test match, the West Indies catapulted for 269, losing their
last six wickets for 65 runs in the face of some hostile bowling
from fast bowler Shane Bond who finished with career-best figures
of five for 78 and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori who grabbed
three for 53. Final scores: New Zealand 337 and 243; West Indies
107 and 269.
A brilliant unbeaten 126 from Nevis middle order batsman Runako
Morton went to waste and Kent easily whipped the West Indies 'A'
team by six wickets at Canterbury Sunday.
Ed Smith (87) and Matthew Walker (75 n.o) masterminded Kent's chase
of a tricky 258 with five balls to spare as the young West Indies
attack struggled. Smith hit 10 fours and a six as he added 105 for
the third wicket with Walker. Smith departed when he was bowled by
Gavin Breese but Walker and Geraint Jones took Kent to the brink of
victory.