Lara, corey fit to tour

St. John's ' Brian Lara and Corey Collymore have been passed fit to take their places in the West Indies team for the imminent tour of England. But, it appears almost certain that the 17th player the selectors were seeking will not be in the party that heads for London on Tuesday.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) executive secretary Andrew Sealy said yesterday the board had received satisfactory written reports on Lara following WICB medical and physical evaluations and the champion batsman's consultations with a sports psychologist in the United States.

Therapist Ronald Rogers carried out the physical examination, while Dr. Llewellyn Harper did the medical tests.

Both sets of tests were done in Barbados on Monday.

Lara's selection to the team follows his three-month break from the game.

Sealy said Collymore had also been declared fit to return to competitive cricket following medical and physical evaluations which were conducted before and after the first-class match between West Indies 'A'and Pakistan at Kensington Oval from May 12-15.

The 22-year-old Barbadian fast bowler was sidelined with a recurring back injury since last September's DMC Festival in Toronto, but showed little effects if it while bowling for the West Indies 'A'team.

An official announcement on the 17th player would be made today, Sealy said, but the SATURDAY SUN understands that the selectors' request for the additional player was once again turned down by the WICB.