Lara
Ambrose
LEICESTER (AP) -
THE West Indies has been forced to rest Brian Lara before next week's third Test after the star batsman complained of discomfort in his right hamstring yesterday.
Lara was named in the tourists' eleven for the three-day game against Leicestershire. But, at the last minute, the team management pulled him out.
Leicestershire, winning the toss and batting, scored 210 for five in 60 overs on a rain-effected first day at Grace Road.
With half the side dismissed for 133, Ben Smith and Vince Wells remained unbeaten on 40 and 38 respectively as they lifted the home side in an unfinished 77-run stand for the sixth wicket. There were two wickets each for fast bowler Franklyn Rose and leg spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo.
Lara returned to the West Indies side for the first time on the tour after going into a self imposed exile after quitting the captaincy in February. But he has been hindered by a recurrence of hamstring strain and muscle ailment.
The lefthander hasn't played since missing the West Indies' only victory in the triangular one-day series against England at Trent Bridge last week.
Manager Ricky Skerritt confirmed it was only a precautionary measure and there was no threat to Lara's chances of playing in the all important third Test at Old Trafford starting next Thursday.
"We didn't want Brian to aggravate the injury. He was complaining of some tightness in his right hamstring," Skerritt told The Associated Press.
"It was only a precaution. He will be fit in time for the third Test."
With left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul ruled out of the third Test with a torn tendon in his right arm every measure will be taken to get Lara fit for the second half of a Test series tied 1-1 after the first two games.
The West Indies' form had hit a new low after it was bowled out for 54 in the second Test at Lord's and then beaten by a narrow two-wicket margin.
The once unofficial world champions in both Test and one-day cricket then suffered the ignominy being beaten by Zimbabwe three times during the one-day series and only restored some lost pride with a victory after being eliminated from the final.
Lara responded to acupuncture treatment earlier this week and appeared to be recovering well. He was scheduled to play in a charity match to honour the late West Indies fast bowler Malcolm Marshall in London on Thursday but had to pull out.
Chanderpaul, who missed the entire triangular one-day series, has been asked by a specialist to rest his troublesome arm for at least another two weeks.
He first damaged his elbow during the 73 in West Indies' innings and 93-run beating of England in the first Test at Edgbaston. Despite not fully recovered, the lefthander was forced to play in the tourists' narrow two-wicket defeat in the second cricket Test at Lord's.
Chanderpaul hasn't played since scoring 22 and nine in the second Test at Lord's.
SCOREBOARD
Leicestershire
First innings
D.Maddy c Hinds b Rose 48
I.Sutcliffe lbw b Rose 34
D.Stevens c Hinds b King 12
J.Dakin b Nagamootoo 11
B.Smith not out 40
A.Habib lbw b Nagamootoo 0
V.Wells not out 38
Extras (b-8, lb-1, nb-18) 27
Total (for five wickets) 210
Fall of wickets: 1-90, 2-113, 3-117, 4-129, 5-133
To bat: P.Griffiths, D.Williamson, C.Crowe, S.Adshead
Bowling: Ambrose 15-0-56-0, King 16-1-63-1, Rose 10-2-27-2, Nagamootoo 14-2-39-2, Adams 5-0-16-0
West Indies: S.Campbell, A.Griffith, C.Gayle, W.Hinds, J.Adams, R.Jacobs, W.Hinds, F.Rose, M.Nagamootoo, R.Sarwan, C.Ambrose.
