WEST INDIES vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan has become the team's latest injury casualty. He will take no further part in the Test series.
Another West Indian, fast bowler Jerome Taylor, was forced to sit out most of the first Test due to a hamstring injury.
Windies coach Bennett King confirmed yesterday that Taylor, who bowled only nine overs because of a hamstring strain in the first Test match that the team lost by 27 runs, was very doubtful for the next Test.
It appears highly likely that another Jamaican fast bowler, Darren Powell, will take his place in the second Test beginning on Friday (Thursday evening Caribbean time) in Wellington, unless the nature of the pitch at the Basin Reserve suggests that leg-spinner Rawl Lewis could be more of a factor.
MUSCLE TEAR
According to a release from the West Indies team media officer Imran Khan late yesterday, Sarwan sustained a left thigh injury while fielding during the third One Day International in Christchurch. The injury is a small muscle tear.
He was subsequently rested from the final ODI fixture in Auckland in preparation for the recently completed first Test.
Sarwan exacerbated the muscle tear while fielding in the second innings of the first Test match at Eden Park.
After playing through the first Test with a degree of pain in the left thigh and exacerbating the tear, team physiotherapist Stephen Partridge and team management, in the discussion with Sarwan, decided that in the best interest of his recovery it was considered advisable for him to forego the remainder of the Test series. This is particularly to concentrate on recovery and rehabilitation with the impending Digicel 2006 home series against Zimbabwe and India in mind.
Sarwan will return to the Caribbean this week. His flight arrangements are currently being finalized. Additionally, the middle-order batsman has been provided with a rehabilitation programme by Partridge which he will undergo upon his return to the Caribbean.
