| Changes likely for fourth Test |
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published: Wednesday | May 7, 2003 ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AP): THE WEST Indies will retain
the same squad of 14 cricketers for the fourth and final Test in Antigua as they
attempt to stave off an Australian whitewashing, the WICB announced yesterday. Australia leads the series
3-0 and will become the first team to sweep the West Indies in the Caribbean if
they win the last Test, which begins Friday in the capital, St. John's. Australia regained top spot
in the world Test rankings from South Africa after beating the West Indies in
Barbados by nine wickets before tea on the last day of the third Test on Monday.
There are likely to be two
changes in the West Indies' final 11 in an effort to put the squad at full
strength. Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs
has recovered from a pulled leg muscle, an injury he sustained in the first Test
and kept him sidelined in the latest two Tests. The 35-year-old veteran,
with 48 Tests under his belt, would return for the match in his native Antigua
to take over for 20-year-old Carlton Baugh, who had made his international debut
in Jacobs' absence. Mervyn Dillon, the
32-year-old Trinidadian fast bowler who was dropped after taking only five
wickets for 325 runs in the first two Tests, is expected to regain his spot and
replace Tino Best. Dillon has taken 117 wickets
in 32 Tests, the only West Indies bowler with over 100 wickets. Best, the 21-year-old
Barbadian fast bowler, went wicketless in his debut Test here. The West Indies squad: Brian Lara (captain), Omari Banks, Carlton Baugh, Tino Best, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith. Manager: Ricky Skerritt. Coach: Gus Logie.
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