Adrian Frater, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE TOURING Indians cricketers arrived in Montego Bay yesterday afternoon shortly after the western city had its first rains in many weeks, but local cricket officials said the showers were not enough to impact on today's one-day-international between the Indians and Jamaica at Jarrett Park.
"The rains today was a blessing as it helped to freshen up the outfield at the park," said Tom Chambers, the president of the St. James Cricket Associa-tion Limited. "The wicket was properly covered so it was not affected in any way."
When The Gleaner visited Jarrett Park shortly after yesterday's rains, the groundstaff was busy fine-tuning the outfield while a work crew was putting on the finishing touches inside the players' pavilion and changing rooms."
"We have been waiting for a game like this for a very long time so we will definitely not allow anything under our control to go wrong," said Chambers. "We just want the fans to come out and make it a truly memorable occasion."
On their arrival at the Sangster International Airport the Indians received a rousing reception as members of the airport staff greeted them with warm handshakes and hugs. Some members of the team ended up signing numerous autographs.
While the cricketers said very little, at the prompting of a fan, who told him that West Indies star batsman Brian Lara would destroy his bowling, spinner Harbajan Singh promised a duel with the master batsman.
"I think I will get him (Lara) out a few times," said the smiling Singh. "Brian Lara is a good batsman but Harbajan Singh is a very good bowler."
Brian Breese, the Cricket Operations Manager for the Jamaica Cricket Association, who was among the local officials at the Sangster International to welcome the Indians, said once the weather holds he was expecting a very good game as both teams should be seeking to impress.
"At the request of the West Indies board, Chris Gayle, Jerome Taylor and Carlton Baugh jnr, will not be playing but nonetheless we are expecting the Jamaica team to do well," said Breese.
