Chanderpaul to miss deciding Test

West Indies' preparations for the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval on Thursday have been far from perfect.

In their last first-class match they lost to Somerset by an embarrassing 269 runs and at a pratice session here on Tuesday Brian Lara, their most gifted strokeplayer, was bowled by unknown 22-year-old left-arm spinner Giles Puckle.

To make matters worse they will be without Shivnarine Chanderpaul, one of their most durable batsmen, in a match they must win if they are not to lose a Test campaign against England for the first time since 1969.

There is no denying that the West Indies would much rather have the Guyanan left-hander back in his usual middle-order position, bolstering their frail batting line-up, rather than seeing him off on a plane to the Caribbean.

Chanderpaul has frustrated the world's best attacks but tendonitis in his right elbow has forced him to miss the last two Tests and left him a helpless spectator as a 1-0 lead for the tourists has turned into a 2-1 deficit.

He played against Somerset but scores of 10 and four not out were hardly the moral-boosting innings Chanderpaul needed.

West Indies manager Ricky Skerritt said: "He's had the best possible care, quality specialists have looked at and we were given the OK for him to test it out in the game at Somerset.

"He just wasn't happy and he chose to give it some more rest and that meant he was no longer available to participate on this tour."

Travelling in the opposite direction is batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan who is returning from Guyana following a family bereavement. Sarwan, aged 20, kept his head while more experienced colleagues were losing theirs in the fourth Test innings and 39 run defeat at Headingley and he was twice not out.

Skerritt said of his young charge: "We think he is ready. Sarwan has been a breath of fresh air, very promising and good for the future of cricket." Few here would disagree.

As well as Chanderpaul, fast bowler Reon King will be absent although his recent form makes his loss more bearable. His 11 overs in the two-day drubbing at Headingley yielded no wickets and cost 48 runs.

King has a stress injury of the instep but Franklyn Rose, who missed the Headingley match because of an ankle problem, is expected to be fit.

The former Northamptonshire pace bowler played without strapping in a one-day match on Monday against a team put together by millionaire cricket lover Sir Paul Getty.

One consolation from the Somerset match was the batting of leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo who scored a century. On a spin-friendly Oval surface West Indies may decide that Nagamootoo is worth a place.

After all, he can hardly do any worse than the other junior bowlers who have failed to give veteran pacemen Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose sufficient support.

For England, the only dilemma is whether or not to play Warwickshire left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, the only addition to the team that won at Headingley.

The selectors may be reluctant to disturb a winning side particularly for such an important match but their tendency to opt for a 'horses for courses' policy suggests Giles could be in with a chance.

Who, if anyone, makes way for Giles after the fine team effort at Headingley is difficult to say although perennial fall-guy Graeme Hick is probably the favourite.

Hick, like batsmen on both sides, will be extra keen to play because The Oval boasts the truest Test pitch in England. If it is up to its usual standard there can be no complaints to the groundsman if this Test too fails to make it into the fourth day.

Just about the only certainty from this match is that Ambrose has said it will be his final Test: there is no reason to doubt the giant Antiguan's word.

He has been a magnificent, menacing bowler taking 402 Test wickets at 20.96 but approaching his 37th birthday he has decided the time has come to lay down his burden.

Mail Cricket Editor