Lara wants Test win for home fans

In 2002, West Indies were beaten by South Africa at the Queen’s Park Oval and last year the Australians did likewise, so this time around West Indies skipper Brian Lara has had enough of it and wants to give the home fans a memorable win against England in the second Cable & Wireless Test which begins at 10.05 this morning. Lara, speaking at the Oval after an intense practice session yesterday, said:   “Over the past few seasons we have not been winning at the Oval and it is high time that we repay the Trinidad and Tobago cricket fans with a win at Queen’s Park.”

Lara and his men go into the match trailing 0-1, after England won the first Test at Sabina Park by ten wickets following the West Indies second innings debacle in being bowled out for 47 runs, their lowest Test score. However, Lara has put this behind him and is confident that his young team can comeback in the series. “We have worked out where we went wrong in the first Test and hopefully the guys will get it right in this match. “We played good cricket for three days but lost the match in one session. It was very disappointing to lose in that manner and the boys have learnt from that game. “This wicket has traditionally produced a result and we are looking forward to that being in our favour. The boys have trained hard coming into this match and they all know their roles. “We are going to take the game session by session and get the win that will put us right back on track.”

West Indies will be without main strike bowler Fidel Edwards who is out for two weeks, resting a back injury. He has been replaced by half-brother and left arm fast bowler Pedro Collins. Barbadian Collins finished top of the Carib Beer Series averages with 37 wickets at 18.45 each. Lara is still feeling the effects of his dislocated finger but is certain to lead his troops, while Dwayne Smith has recovered from his finger injury. But Ryan Hinds is expected to keep his place ahead of Smith after his battling 84 in the first Test. Smith was ordered to practise his part-time medium-pace bowling at today’s net session, so there may be another way back in for him. Lara did not disclose the final team saying  this will be done at the toss and at the moment all players are in serious contention to play in the match. Coach Gus Logie said at present he is, working on getting back the players confidence and he will be asking them to be more committed come match time today. Meanwhile, England who enjoyed a 1-1 result in 1998 after two

Test matches at the Oval, will be wary of a West Indies backlash. The Caribbean team have roared back from being humiliated before and the English will know this well. They will also have at the back of their minds the fact that they were skittled  for 46 runs by Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh and company in the 1993-94 series at the Oval. Yesterday, they took in a practice session at the Oval after an early morning work out at the Hilton Trinidad swimming pool. Coach Duncan Fletcher said all his players are fit and will be available for selection. England are expected to play the same team, victorious in the first Test in Jamaica. Tickets according to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) are going very fast and a full house is expected for the first three days of the match.

Teams: WEST INDIES (from) - Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-capt), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Dwayne Smith, Ryan Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Tino Best, Corey Collymore, Adam Sanford, Pedro Collins.
ENGLAND (from) - Michael Vaughn (capt), James Anderson, Gareth Batty, Mark Butcher, Marcus Trescothick, Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe, Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Ashley Giles, Chris Read, Ricki Clarke, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Geriant Jones, Simon Jones.