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“Stiff necked” Ramprakash to be replaced |
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News |
June 15, 2000
BIRMINGHAM, England, JUNE 14 (AP) - England opener Mark Ramprakash was forced to cut short his final net session with a recurrence of a stiff neck on the eve of Thursday's opening test against the West Indies.
Captain Nasser Hussain said the England selectors will call up a specialist opener but will give Ramprakash every chance to be fit in time for the Edgbaston match. Michael Vaughan, who has been sidelined with a broken bone in his right hand since April, is expected to be called up as the standby. "Mark is very much available for selection," Hussain said. "We'll see how he wakes up in the morning. We are not taking any chances." Ramprakash faced only three throw-down deliveries from opening partner Mike Atherton and was in obvious discomfort. He was treated immediately by physiotherapist Dean Conway. Hussain, who will be playing his 50th test, refused to commit himself when asked if England would win the test series.
"You go into every series hoping to win," he said. "I expect to win if we put in more performances like we did at Lord's. f we put in more performances like Trent Bridge, I don't expect us to win." After thrashing Zimbabwe by innings and 209 runs in the first test, England managed to escape with a draw in the second after some spirited effort by the visitors had the home side staring at defeat. "It is really in our hands," Hussain said. "We haven't been consistent enough for me to sit here and say that's going to be definite. It is really down to how we play in each test match." Both teams were forced to train indoors after rain lashed Edgbaston on the eve of the five-match series. The West Indies team has also been hit by injuries. Left hander Wavell Hinds was battling to be fit in time for the test, as were veteran fast bowlers Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, who are yet to play a game on the current tour. Hinds is nursing a heavily bruised left ankle. If he fails a fitness test, 19-year right hander Ramnaresh Sarwan will take his place in the middle order. Brian Lara will return to the side after a five-match absence and will bat at No.4. "I hope his best hasn't been seen yet," skipper Jimmy Adams said. "May be I am greedy and want more big innings from him." Fast bowler Nixon McLean and Reon King will fight for the final spot in the West Indies pace quartet that include Walsh, Ambrose and Franklyn Rose.
Teams: England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Michael Atherton, Mark Ramprakash, Graeme Hick, Alec Stewart, Nick Knight, Andrew Flintoff, Robert Croft, Andrew Caddick, Darren Gough, Ed Giddins.
West Indies (from): Sherwin Campbell, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara, Wavell Hinds, Jimmy Adams (captain), Ridley Jacobs, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Franklyn Rose, Reon King and Nixon McLean. Umpires: David Shepherd (England) and Srini Venkataraghavan (India). Television umpire: Barry Duddlestone. Match referee: Graham Dowling (New Zealand).
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