Runako Morton - Dellmar photo

TAUNTON, England (CMC):

Batsman Runako Morton said his previous experience in English conditions helped him during his century against Somerset Saturday.

The right-handed Morton scored 103 before retiring hurt with a leg injury as the West Indies reached 237 for four on the close of a rain-hit opening day of their three-day tour match at the County Cricket Ground.

"It's normal this time of year in England for the ball to nip around a bit. I've played here a few times so I'm aware of that," Morton told reporters. "The key thing is to play positively, play straight and not push at too many deliveries away from your body.

"It's a matter of getting accustomed to the conditions, getting accustomed to playing in these conditions and playing within your strengths."

Morton struck 15 fours and two sixes in an innings spanning nearly three hours and 118 balls.

He shared a crucial 193-run fifth wicket stand with Shivnarine Chanderpaul who was unbeaten on 82 at the close, as the West Indies rebounded from 44 for four early on a damp, rainy day.

"The team really needed that one today and I am happy I was able to put my hand up today and contribute," Morton said.

SUPPORTING ROLE

Meanwhile, Chanderpaul said that with Morton going great guns he was happy to play a supporting role.

"Runako came in and started to stroke the ball well, and he decided to play his game and have a go at anything in front of him, he was successful in doing that, and I was happy to support him,"

Chanderpaul said in reflecting on the team's performance on the rained-out day two yesterday.

"If anything had gone wrong we would have been in bigger trouble and we had to make sure that we got a partnership going," Chanderpaul reasoned.

"I was trying to get a feel for the wicket and see what the ball was doing while keeping an eye on the weather situation as well, I realized that we could not do anything rash," explained the veteran of 101 Test matches.

Despite getting 82 from 115 deliveries, Chanderpaul said he was not timing the ball as well as he is known to be.

"I wasn't timing the ball as well as I would have liked but the main thing is that I was still out there and still batting and feeling my way," said the stodgy left hander who has accumulated 6,736 Test runs at an average of 44.6.

FRUSTRATING

Turning his attention to the excessively rainy conditions Chanderpaul said it can be frustrating with only limited time to prepare for the four-Test series against England.

"We only have a short period of time to prepare for the first Test so you want the opportunity to be out there playing as much as possible to get acclimatized," Chanderpaul said.

"Playing England in England wouldn't be like playing Somerset. England plans carefully for each player they face and in England the ball will always move around, it's not like the Caribbean where you can go out and drive the ball immediately, you have to wait longer on it here," Chanderpaul, the most experienced West Indies player said.

"They key for us will be to put runs on the board, once we do that as batters I am confident that we have the bowlers to do the job for us."

Vaughan out

LONDON, England (CMC):

England captain Michael Vaughan has been ruled out of the first Test against West Indies with a broken finger and Andrew Strauss will captain the side at Lord's.

Andrew Strauss will captain England in the first Test against West Indies at Lord's this week after Vaughan failed to recover from a broken finger.

The in-form Owais Shah, whose one cap came against India 14 months ago, was recalled in place of the sidelined Vaughan, but there was no place for pacers James Anderson or Sajid Mahmood. Liam Plunkett secured the remaining seamer's slot.

Matt Prior was preferred as wicketkeeper to Paul Nixon, who kept for England throughout the CB Series and the World Cup.

"Matt averages nearly forty with the bat in first-class cricket and this was an important factor in reaching our decision," David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, said.

Meanwhile, Vaughan is hopeful he will return to full fitness for the second Test starting on May 25 at Headingley.

"Vaughan has made progress with his recovery from injury, but his chances of being fully fit for this Test are extremely doubtful and we feel the best course of action is to avoid any uncertainty and for Strauss to deputise for him," Graveneysaid.

SQUAD - Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Owais Shah, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, Matt Prior (wicketkeeper, Liam Plunkett, Monty Panesar, Steve Harmison, Matthew Hoggard.