Chanderpaul ... I feel it for the youngsters who have been forced out with the return of the four stars. - File
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP):
AS HIS team prepares to face South Africa in a second Test, new West Indies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul said he feels for the younger players who will be left out to make room for the return of four key veterans.
Chanderpaul spoke on Tuesday night after arriving in Trinidad following a draw in the first Test played in Guyana. The second Test starts at Queen's Park Oval tomorrow.
The West Indies have been strengthened by the return of Ramnaresh Sarwan, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle and former skipper Brian Lara. But that also means younger players Narsingh Deonarine, Donovan Pagon, Devon Smith, and Daren Ganga have been replaced in the squad.
"I feel it for the youngsters who have been forced out with the return of the four stars," Chanderpaul said as he arrived at Piarco International Airport with his wife and other team members. "Brian is our best batsman, so it is always great to have him in the squad, but I do feel sorry for the youngsters who had to give way. On the other hand I believe that the team is a stronger one than in the first Test, and we should do well here in Port-of-Spain," Chanderpaul said.
West Indies cricket officials on Monday recalled Lara and three other previously ineligible players for the series against South Africa.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) had previously ruled them and three others ineligible because they had personal endorsement contracts with British-based telecommunications giant Cable & Wireless, a rival of the Irish company Digicel, the team's new sponsor.
Also arriving on the same flight in Trinidad on Tuesday night were members of the South African squad, who salvaged a draw with a stubborn batting display on the final day.
RESULTS-ORIENTED
But the batsman-friendly conditions in Guyana will be replaced by the results-oriented strip at the Oval, which could offer greater assistance to the bowlers, especially the seamers.
It's something that South African skipper Graeme Smith hopes will favour his team.
"We were lucky to come out of the first Test with a draw. We let ourselves down early in the contest," he said. "We were completely outplayed on the first three days, but we finally got things going and earned a draw. We are still learning about the conditions in the Caribbean, so it's taking us a while to settle down."
Smith was also looking forward to welcoming back former captain Shaun Pollock, who will miss the first two Test matches due to injury.
