Four out to impress

The focus will be on four major players when the West Indies Board XI face the South Africans in a three-day encounter at Kensington Oval today.

On the Board XI side, captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Reon King, two reserves for the first and second Tests, will want to impress the selectors and push for a place in the third Test, which starts on Thursday.

Chanderpaul and King were not with the other members of the side when they had a morning net session yesterday at Queen's Park under the watchful eyes of manager Tony Howard and coach Hendy Springer.

The two Guyanese, who arrived late yesterday evening, are among six Test players in the team. The others are Daren Ganga, Ricardo Powell, fast bowlers Colin Stuart, Cameron Cuffy, all of whom were in Australia with the West Indies.

Chanderpaul, with 45 Tests under his belt and King, who has appeared in 12, have only had limited cricket this season after being sidelined with foot injuries.

The South Africans will be eager to see how left-arm spinner Paul Adams and young fast bowler Andre Nel do on the Kensington Oval pitch, which yesterday looked likely to favour the batsmen, but could have some early bounce.

Yesterday, South African coach Graham Ford said all the players who did not play in the first two Tests will be in the line-up today.

We will be giving the other guys a run in this game, said Ford as some members of the touring party had nets at Police Sports Club, assisted by members of the Barbados Defence Force Sports Programme.

We are hoping for a good game. The guys are eager and have no real fears. Everyone is fit and we are looking forward to playing in Barbados.

Captain Shaun Pollock has decided to rest, along with fellow fast bowler Allan Donald, and Nel could share the new ball with Makhaya Ntini. Batsman Boeta Dippenaar and all-rounder Justin Kemp will also have their first match of the tour.

Adams is one of four left-arm spinners who will be on show in the match. He is joined by team-mate Nicky Boje, while the Board XI will showcase wrist spinner Dave Mohammed and improving all-rounder Ryan Hinds.

President's XI: Shivnarine Chanderpaul (captain), Daren Ganga, Leon Garrick, Travis Dowlin, Ricardo Powell, Ryan Hinds, Keith Hibbert, Reon King, Colin Stuart, Cameron Cuffy, Dave Mohammed; reserves: Kurt Wilkinson and Ricky Christopher.

South Africa (possible): Mark Boucher (captain), Boeta Dippenaar, Herschelle Gibbs, Neil McKenzie, Jacques Kallis, Lance Klusener, Justin Kemp, Nicky Boje, Paul Adams, Makhaya Ntini and Andre Nel.