King may still be in

Two days after the apparent decision that he should end his Sri Lankan tour because of a minor hernia problem, Reon King could well end up in the XI for the second Test starting tomorrow.

King had a full workout at the team's net practice yesterday at the Asgiriya Stadium, the venue for the Test that is within the grounds of Trinity College, and reported no discomfort.

In the meanwhile, Merv Dillon, now the spearhead of the attack, developed a boil under his right arm and did not bowl in the nets.

Manager Ricky Skerritt said Dillon had been treated with prescribed antibiotics and should be ready come tomorrow morning. But King's presence would be reassuring.

Skerritt said chief selector Mike Findlay had been in touch with the tour selectors on King's position and, while it had been determined Sunday after a meeting with King that he should return home, revealed that the decision process was not yet complete.

King was examined by a specialist here who passed him fit enough to play through the tour but reported he would require eventually surgery on the hernia.

Given such medical confidence, the decision to despatch him back to the Caribbean, even before his as yet unnamed replacement arrives, seemed unnecessarily hasty.

King has the experience of 14 Tests behind him, more than all the other fast bowlers except Dillon (16).

In spite of a foot injury that put him out of action for three months last year that seemed to also affect his confidence, he is capable of pace and movement, in the air and off the seam.

Skerritt reported that key batsman Brian Lara was fit and raring to go.

He spent an accumulated eight hours scoring 178 and 40 and another 15 1/2 hours in the field in Galle. Lara took painkilling tablets twice during his second innings but the manager said there had been no after-effects on the right hamstring that has bothered him since June 2000.

It is certain that three fast bowlers will play on a pitch that yesterday had the greenish tinge that delights those dealing in pace. It should make a welcome change from the dry, bare, flat surface on which Sri Lanka amassed 590 for nine declared in the first Test.

Left-arm spinner Neil McGarrell will make way to accommodate the more traditional West Indian bowling balance in what is likely to be the only change in the XI.

Marlon Samuels was distinctly uncomfortable against the offspinner of Muttiah Muralitharan in Galle but so were most of the others.

The only realistic batting option would be left-hander Wavell Hinds but he has not been in the middle since he had his nose broken in the Melbourne Festival match the weekend before the team left for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka have a poor record in Kandy, ironically Muralitheran's home town. They have been beaten in their last three Tests here, by South Africa, Pakistan and England, and an aversion has developed among the cricket public, if not the cricketers themselves.