Dyson pitch blast comes back to bite

John Dyson, the West Indies coach, won't be leaving Grace Road with many friends after his first-day remarks about the pitch didn't go down well with the Leicestershire. Just to make sure the club's feelings were clear they have denied the tourists the use of the pitch for extra practice on Thursday.

After 14 wickets fell on the opening day of the match Dyson hit out at the surface and said: "I don't think it's a good pitch." However, over the next two days those comments were made to look ill-advised as Lendl Simmons hit a century, then a young Leicestershire side batted out the final day to save the game. Following the draw Dyson made a request to use the pitch for a training session before the squad travels to Chelmsford for the next match.

"For me it's been an excellent game of cricket over three days and been an excellent cricket wicket and the very fact a young side were able to battle it out on the final day shows that it's been a good batting wicket throughout," David Smith, the Leicestershire chief executive, said. "I'm somewhat intrigued the West Indies coach has been critical of the wicket on day one and has now asked if they can practice on it tomorrow and I don't think it's appropriate after his comments.

"They will be practising in the nets and they are very welcome, but I didn't take too kindly to the comments."

Dyson tried to prevent the incident escalating by saying he had no issue with not have the pitch available. "There's a nice big field out here so I'm sure we'll find something to do - there's no problem," he said.

West Indies now have two more warm-up games, against Essex and the England Lions, before the first Test at Lord's starts on May 6. They will be strengthened by the arrival of Shivnarine Chanderpaul while Jerome Taylor is expected to be available for next week's match against the Lions at Derby. The pair had been given extra time at home to recover from injuries they picked at the end of the home series.

Taylor and Fidel Edwards, who is still playing in the IPL along with captain Chris Gayle, are set to take the new ball in the two-match Test series which leaves West Indies looking for a third seamer from among Lionel Baker, Andrew Richardson and Darren Sammy.

"We've got a number of options for our pace attack," Dyson. "I've said to the guys on several occasions that all spots are up for grabs. We've got three games and those that perform in those three games can look with confidence at selection for the Test side."