Animals upset vital practice at Antigua

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 80

Animals upset vital practice at Antigua

NZPA-AFPSt John’s, Antigua A cow and a dog combined to upset the England cricket team's preparation for its second match of its West Indies tour at St John’s, Antigua. Humiliatingly beaten by the Windward Islands by seven wickets in their opening match in St Vincent, England’s scheduled practice session for their match against the Leeward Islands was delayed when a cow Interfered with preparation of the pitch at the police ground Just outside St John’s. Practice had to be postponed from morning to afternoon.

In addition, the reserve wicket-keeper, Bruce French, was bitten on the back of the thigh by a dog and was unlikely to play his first match of the tour. French said he had anti-tetanus injections just over a year ago and a doctor was confident there would be no complications from the bite. He was one of the five players who were left out of the team against the Windwards. All of the

others, including the cap-, tain, David Gower, and the successful all-rounder,' lan Botham, were certain to play against the Lee-, ward Islands. The West Indies cap; tain, Vivian Richards, has opted out of the Leewards team to rest for the forthcoming five-Tests series. Another West Indies Test player, Eldine Baptiste, isalso out with a foot injury?' Richie Richardson the only remaining West Indies player in the Leewards team, although he has been struggling for form. Another batsman? Ralston Otto, takes over the captaincy in Richards’ place. ?

The pitch is certain to be'harder and better for batting than the one in St Vincent where. England were dismissed for 187 and 94 and the acting captain, Mike Gatting, was the only batsman to pass 50 with a first innings 78. England have only one more first-class match after the Leewards game, against Jamaica, before to the first Test against theWest Indies starting in Kingston, Jamaica, on February 21. '_•?