'Shiv' to test hand at No. 3

After more than seven weeks unable to bat, even in the nets, Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been assigned the No. 3 position on his return to action in the West Indies' four-day match against Somerset starting today.

Providing the reliable left-hander has no after-shocks from the damaged tendon in his right forearm that confined him to the role of bystander since the second Test on June 30, that is where he is likely to be posted as well for the decisive fifth and final Test at the Oval next week.

While Chanderpaul's fitness and form will be closely monitored, there was some doubt last night whether Mahendra Nagamootoo would have his chance to make a claim for a Test place.

The leg-spinner injured his thumb in practice on Monday. He has been included in the squad of 12 but, if it remains swollen this morning, he will have to be omitted.

Nagamootoo has not bowled particularly well on tour (16 wickets at 34.31 each) but, given the failure of the back-up fast bowlers to Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh, and reports that the pitches at the Oval this summer favour spin, an impressive performance here would interest the selectors.

His batting and fielding are bonuses.

Net session

After intensive treatment, Chanderpaul was only given the all-clear to resume batting by the doctor on Friday and his preparation has amounted to a limited, gentle net session on Monday morning at Headingley, venue of the West Indies' shocking two-day defeat in the fourth Test.

"It's great to have Shiv back," captain Jimmy Adams said yesterday. "His record speaks for itself, he has plenty of experience and was our leading batsman before his injury. It's just a matter now of seeing how the injury responds."

The doctor has advised Chanderpaul there will be some initial pain and has prescribed appropriate medication. But he has assured him there should be no further damage to the tendon.

The pitch at the Somerset county ground in Taunton is considered one of the truest in England, a welcome change after conditions in the Tests that have led to low-scoring matches with only two individual hundreds, by Brian Lara for the West Indies and Alec Stewart for England.

Four days is ample time to construct long, meaningful innings.

The overall batting selection may be a pointer to the Test team.

Adrian Griffith and Chris Gayle are the openers, seemingly a straight contest for who partners Sherwin Campbell at the Oval. Gayle's last two first-class innings were 128 and 54 against Leicestershire and his capacity as an off-spinner in the anticipated conditions give him a starting advantage.

Wavell Hinds is omitted to accommodate Chanderpaul, with Lara, Adams and Ramnaresh Sarwan to follow.

It is Hinds' turn for a rest for he has played every match on tour except the first. He has three hundreds in the county matches, tops the batting overall and would have had a better record in the Tests but for three wrong decisions in succession.

His place should not be in question but, if Chanderpaul comes through the Somerset match in fine fettle, someone has to make way.

The four support fast bowlers were all included in the 12 named last night with one, unidentified, to miss out if Nagamootoo's thumb recovers in time.

Reon King, Nixon McLean and Franklyn Rose have all been used in the Tests and have fallen woefully short of expectations. It is the opportunity for Corey Collymore to show that he is up to the task.

Once more, Wayne Phillip keeps wicket while Ridley Jacobs rests. It is the eighth match for the young Dominican wicket-keeper who, the WICB emphasised before the tour, was not in the team at all. It is a good thing that he is.

Team: Jimmy Adams (captain), Adrian Griffith, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Franklyn Rose, Wayne Phillip, Nixon McLean, Reon King, Corey Collymore. (Mahendra Nagamootoo for one of Rose, McLean, King or Collymore if fit).