- Reuters
England's captain Michael Vaughan inspects the rain-soaked Bourda pitch at Georgetown, Guyana, yesterday. The first one-day international between England and West Indies, scheduled for today, looks in doubt.
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC:
GUYANA'S INFAMOUS weather and not the exploits of the players could decide the outcome of the opening one-day international between West Indies and England today.
Heavy rain over the last few days drenched the capital and left parts of the Bourda Oval under water.
Weather forecasters have predicted more heavy rainfall over the next few days and that has also placed tomorrow's reserve day under threat.
Umpires Aleem Dar of the ICC elite panel and Guyana native Eddie Nicholls were to inspect the ground at 7:30 this morning to determine whether or not a prompt start is possible, a WICB spokesman told CMC Sports.
Guyana president Bharrat Jagdeo has authorised the use of a Guyana Defence Force helicopter to help dry the ground after the murky weather gave way to bright sunshine.
Officials of the Guyana Cricket Board are hopeful that their groundstaff can complete mopping up operations to allow for a prompt start.
HOPEFUL
Rain has often interrupted international matches in Guyana, but England and West Indies will be hopeful that the unkind weather clears and that ground officials can get the show on the road.
Both sides are looking forward to the seven-match series, after England won the preceding four-Test series 3-0 to claim their first Test series victory on Caribbean soil since 1968.
The West Indies will like to regain some of their hurt pride that was stomped on during the Test series.
Ramnaresh Sarwan leads the side in the absence of Brian Lara, who has been advised to take 10 days out of competitive cricket to allow the fractured little finger on his right hand to heal properly.
Lara damaged the finger during the first Test against England at Kingston and has been carrying the injury throughout the Test series.
Sarwan will be in charge for the first three matches, although Lara will bless the team with his presence in Guyana, and it will give him a chance to demonstrate just how much he has learnt over the last year in the position of vice captain.
While much of the batting that England wrecked in the Test series has been retained for the ODIs, Sir Vivian Richards and the rest of the selection panel have chosen to rest fast bowlers Fidel Edwards, Tino Best and Pedro Collins and bring out Mervyn Dillon, Ravi Rampaul and the uncapped Ian Bradshaw.
They have also squeezed all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, who has been a consistent performer in the West Indies domestic championships over the past three years, into the brew for the first three matches.
England will be looking to build on that momentum from the Test series and transform a poor ODI record in the Caribbean that has seen them only win four time in 22 matches.
England have swapped five members of their Test squad for the ODI series.
Darren Gough, England's leading wicket-taker in ODIs, headlines the newcomers that also includes James Kirtley, Ian Blackwell and Anthony McGrath.
James Anderson, Paul Collingwood, Rikki Clarke and Andrew Strauss - all of whom travelled with the Test side without playing - will also be looking to impress in the shorter version of the game.
Squads:
WEST INDIES (from): Ramnaresh Sarwan (captain), Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Dwayne Smith, Ryan Hinds, Sylvester Joseph, Ridley Jacobs, Dwayne Bravo, Ian Bradshaw, Mervyn Dillon, Ravi Rampaul, Corey Collymore.
ENGLAND (from): Michael Vaughan (captain), James Anderson, Gareth Batty, Ian Blackwell, Rikki Clarke, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Stephen Harmison, James Kirtley, Anthony McGrath, Chris Read, Andrew Strauss, Marcus Trescothick.
