Fast bowler Taylor out S/Africa tour

JOHANNESBURG: West Indies will be without Jerome Taylor for their tour of South Africa after the fast bowler returned home with a back injury.

Taylor has not played since the First Test against Zimbabwe three weeks ago. He took no part in his side’s 3-2 one-day series victory, completed with a win in Harare on Sunday. “Playing a month of international cricket ahead of a tough tour like this always helps,” said West Indies captain Brian Lara. “Zimbabwe really lifted themselves for us and they played some hard cricket. It was great preparation for this tour.”

The tourists, who arrived in South Africa yesterday, will name a replacement for Taylor later this week. West Indies open the second leg of their tour in Randjesfontein tomorrow, with a match against a Nicky Oppenheimer Invitation XI captained by Lance Klusener. Set to play four Test matches and a five-match one-day series they will hope to improve on results five years ago, when they were blanked in the Tests 5-0.