Well-grassed wicket for 2nd Test

West Indies captain Brian Lara took a keen interest in the batting of his fast bowlers as the West Indies team practised at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain yesterday. But the visiting Australians have some concern about how the Oval pitch would play in the Second test, which gets underway on Saturday.

Lara was at the outdoor nets with Vasbert Drakes, Pedro Collins and Mervyn Dillon helping them with their batting techniques. The Caribbean cricketers held an intensive fielding session under coach Gus Logie on the outfield at the Oval. The batsmen then left the venue for the nearby Queen’s Royal College cricket ground where they indulged in batting practice. Australia lead the four-Test series 1-0 after their crushing nine-wicket victory in Guyana. WI team manager Ricky Skerrit said yesterday the team had settled down and are looking forward to squaring the series this weekend. “The boys are all ready for the battle at hand and are looking to get a good result here in Trinidad,” Skerrit said.

The home team has been plagued by injuries with wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs ruled out of the Test, as well as Jamaican fast bowler Jermaine Lawson who is ill with with chicken pox. Lawson has been replaced with Tino Best of Barbados. Best was expected to arrive in Trinidad last night from Barbados. Carlton Baugh is expected to take the place of Jacobs behind the timbers. The teenager was given a torrid work out by Logie yesterday and will be looking to make an auspicious good start to his Test career. Skerrit added that the players’ morale is still high despite the opening loss. “The boys are believing in themselves, that they can come back in the series. They just need to be positive and with their talent, they should perform well,” he said. His Australian counterpart Steve Bernard, as expected, is very confident his team will remain on top after this Test. “We played good cricket in the First Test and we are looking to continue in the same vein on Saturday. “Skipper Steve Waugh is fit after injuring his hand and our strike bowler Jason Guillespie came through the first match very well. So all in the all the boys are fit and the important thing on our mind now is the state of the Queen’s Park pitch,” said Bernard.

Head groundsman at the Oval, Curtis Roberts, said the pitch is a very good one for cricket. “There is something there for everybody. Anyone who works hard will get runs and take wickets here,” he said. “This is just the third time that we are using this strip and so far in the two matches, it has held up well,” Roberts added. The pitch was well grassed yesterday which Roberts said would remain until the opening day on Saturday. Meanwhile tickets sales were steady at the Oval yesterday and a good crowd is expected on Saturday. Tickets for the first One-Day International have been sold out and only a few remain for the second match on May 24 and 25 respectively.