Help on the way for West Indies

Help is on the way for the injury hit West Indies team, currently on a tour of the African continent. The West Indies who have seen three of their fast bowlers break down with various injuries, will be shortly be benefiting from the arrival of at least three new players.

Fast bowlers Pedro Collins and Marlon Black will fly out to join their counterparts tomorrow (11 July) for the remainder of the tour of Africa. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper/batsman Courtney Browne will fly out on the 17th July to join the team as back up to Jacobs, who, as a result of a controversial off the field ruling, has been disqualified from taking part in the second Test against Zimbabwe. Jacobs, however, was not selected to play in the Kenya leg of the tour which follows the present tour of Zimbabwe.

Dillon, who suffered a "tear at the origin of the patellar tendon of his right knee," will be returning to the Caribbean where he will recuperate. Team manager Ricky Skerritt, yesterday confirmed that Dillon's latest injury will require at least four week's rest.

This latest set of players to join the West Indies touring party now brings to five the number of replacements that have been made to the squad since they left the Caribbean in early June.

One injury, that of Brian Lara, has raised many questions about his fitness and suitability to travel to Zimbabwe in the first place. Lara's strange inclusion after having admitted that he "only participated fully" in one day of a two week pre-tour camp, follows on the heel of similar inclusions in the past.

The West Indies having won the Coca-Cola Cup, now take on Zimbabwe in two Tests (19 - 23 July & 27 - 31 July), before going to Kenya for a short tour of that country.