The West Indies cricket side breathed an enormous sigh of relief on Wednesday when it was learnt that talismanic batsman Brian Lara had not suffered a serious injury after being struck on the arm.
Lara, the West Indies skipper, was taken to hospital for X-rays after being hit on the left forearm by a net bowler while batting at Kingsmead.
”Brian’s fine,” said team manager Ricky Skerrit after Lara had left the hospital. ”The X-rays revealed that there were no broken bones.”
Although Lara at least will take his place in the playing XI when the second Test begins on Friday at Kingsmead, the West Indies injury toll continues to mount nevertheless.
Opening batsman Chris Gayle and seam bowler Corey Collymore were both ruled out of the Boxing Day encounter after failing to recover from hamstring injuries.
Gayle pulled his hamstring while chasing a ball to the fence on the opening day of the first Test at the Wanderers while Collymore went into that match carrying a hamstring strain.
Daren Ganga will, in all likelihood, move up the order to open the batting with the out-of-sorts Wavell Hinds while Adam Sanford will probably replace Collymore.
Sanford, who flew out as a replacement for Omari Banks, bowled with lively pace and bounce to capture five for 53 against Border in East London last weekend — outshining another Test hopeful, Ravi Rampaul.
Meanwhile, South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis will undergo a late fitness test to determine whether he will play in Durban.
”I had a session with [physiotherapist] Shane Jabaar yesterday,” said Kallis after arriving in Durban on Wednesday, ”and it went well. I felt no discomfort and I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t be considered for the Test.”
Kallis suffered a faint hamstring twinge while playing for Western Province against Natal in a domestic limited-overs match on Saturday. — Sapa