Chanderpaul LONDON
WEST Indies middle-order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul had a short net session at Headingley yesterday. He will play in the match against Somerset starting tomorrow, and will be ready for the fifth and final Test against England starting at The Oval on August 31.
The left-handed batsman scored an attractive 73 in the West Indies only innings in the first Test at Edgbaston, but has been injured since then with his only appearance in any kind of match limited to the second Test at Lord's where he played after a last-minute net and scored 22 and nine.
With the injury, first diagnosed as something like tennis elbow but later found out to a muscle tear below the right elbow, not responding to treatment after so many weeks, a professor from Leeds University was contacted, Chanderpaul was taken to him on Tuesday, he supported the diagnosis of a tear, performed a kind of ultra sound treatment called Litho Trespy, and on Friday passed him fit to play.
According to manager Ricky Skerritt, the professor said that the injury is now at the stage where playing will do no further damage so once there is no pain, there should be no fear.
Yesterday morning, Chanderpaul had a net session and according to Skerritt it went well, and he will be in action right away.
Other news coming out of the West Indies camp are that Curtly Ambrose, who is suffering from a disc herniation in the lower back will be resting until the fourth Test and that Franklyn Rose who injured his right ankle after stepping on a football days before the fourth Test has been training and expected to play against Somerset.
After falling to a disappointing loss in two days to England in the fourth Test at Headingley on Friday, the West Indies had their first training session yesterday. Apart from Chanderpaul, however, there was little batting and bowling. Most of the time was spent doing exercises and fielding.
Before going to Headingley, however, the team had a long rap session, which according to Skerritt went well.
"It was good," said the manager. "We talked about what happened at Headingley, and we talked about what we need to do if we are to win the fifth Test. What was really important was that the guys agreed with what Roger (coach Harper) has been saying all along - which is that we need to be more disciplined in our batting in all the matches we play."
By Tony Becca
Senior Sport Editor
