Injured Dillon returns home

West Indian bowler Mervyn Dillon has become the fourth casualty on their tour of Zimbabwe after he suffered a knee injury in Saturday's Coca Cola Cup limited-overs final against India.

The West Indies Cricket Board said on Monday that the fast bowler would return to the Caribbean on Thursday.

His departure follows those of fast bowlers Kerry Jeremy with a back strain and Cameron Cuffy with a left in-step injury. Star batsman Brian Lara had earlier left the team because of a chronic hamstring problem.

West Indies manager Ricky Skerritt informed the WICB on Monday that Dillon suffered "a tear at the origin of the patellar tendon of his right knee" during the 16-run win over India.

Skerritt added doctors had indicated that Dillon would need a minimum of four weeks rest and Mike Findlay, chairman of the West Indies selection panel, was expected to name replacements for him and Cuffy in the coming days.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Courtney Browne will fly out to Zimbabwe on Tuesday to replace vice-captain Ridley Jacobs, who has been banned by International Cricket Council match referee Dennis Lindsay from playing in the second Test against the Zimbabweans from July 27 to 31.

Following an incident during a limited-overs match against India last Wednesday, Jacobs was originally suspended for the three limited-overs internationals West Indies were to contest on their brief tour of Kenya next month.

Lindsay did not know at the time that Jacobs was not selected for the Kenyan tour, but Gregory Shillingford, chief executive of the WICB, confirmed to Zimbabwe Cricket Union officials that Jacobs would not be touring Kenya.

Jacobs was penalised after television replays showed he stumped Indian batsman Viren Sewag without the ball in his right glove that broke the bails, but in his left glove that was "nowhere near the broken wicket".

Mail Cricket Editor