Hinds to join injury-hit West Indies

Batsman Wavell Hinds will join the West Indies tour party in Sri Lanka on Wednesday as fitness problems continue to worry both sides ahead of next week's first Test in Galle.

Hinds, who left his native Jamaica on Monday, was passed fit to play after undergoing surgery on a broken nose sustained when he was struck by former Windies fast bowler Joel Garner during a festival game.

The left-hander has been called up to replace Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who was ruled out of the tour with a back injury.

"Wavell Hinds has been cleared to play and will join us on Wednesday," West Indies manager Ricky Skerritt said on Tuesday.

The West Indies have been plagued by fitness problems in their build-up to the three-Test series.

Leading batsmen Brian Lara opted to travel despite concerns over his long-standing hamstring injury and wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs has also undergone finger surgery.

"These are not serious worries but we are watching them," Skerritt added.

Sri Lanka have fitness problems of their own. Fast bowler Dilhara Fernando has been ruled out of the first Test with back trouble and wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana is nursing a broken right index finger.

"We will certainly miss them. It's one of the problems that comes with not having a great depth of players," Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore said.

Unlike Sri Lanka, the West Indies go into the first Test starting on November 13 short of match practice.

Their last Test series was back in July while two days of their first warm-up game in Colombo were washed out due to rain.

They play one more match -- a three-day game in the southern city of Matara starting on Thursday -- before the first Test.

After the three Tests, West Indies and Sri Lanka will be joined by Zimbabwe in a triangular one-day tournament.

Mail Cricket Editor