CHRIS Lewis is hoping to get his West Indies tour off and running at
the second attempt in St Kitts today. Lewis was picked for England's
opener against Antigua but pulled out with sunstroke, the latest in a
lengthening list of medical ailments which have stunted his progress.
It left the management furious and frustrated as the problem was
self-inflicted, Lewis having shaved his head after the team arrived and
then practising without a hat.
In Lewis's absence, Andrew Caddick took centre stage, shining not only
with the bat as he did against Australia last summer, but also with the
ball, securing a five-wicket haul during an otherwise uninspired England
bowling performance in Antigua's first innings.
Lewis now knows he is under real pressure to start performing,
beginning against St Kitts and Nevis today. Once the international
matches start, the opportunities to break into the side will be limited.
Team manager Keith Fletcher acknowledged the next three days will be
crucial to Lewis' tour while also hinting he is running out of patience
with the all-rounder when he said: ''Chris Lewis could be a key player
in the forthcoming series. He is highly talented, but those talents have
got to be produced on the field.
''If he is getting runs, he would make a difference at the bottom of
the order, but at the moment he is fighting for a place with a few
others.''
Captain Michael Atherton will again open the batting with Alec
Stewart, despite scoring 108 in the win over Antigua. A heavy
international programme as the tour progresses will give little chance
for a breather, but Fletcher said: ''There was no real temptation to
rest Mike. It is important as captain he gets into the best possible
form and, although he got runs in the last match, I have seen him play
better.''
Bowlers Angus Fraser, Devon Malcolm, and Phil Tufnell all come in for
their first appearances of the tour, Tufnell now fully recovered from
the sore left shoulder he picked up during practice.
Matthew Maynard and Mark Ramprakash, the two batsmen who missed the
victory over Antigua, also get their chance, with Ramprakash set to
occupy the crucial No.3 position, while Graham Thorpe and Graeme Hick,
who both batted for long periods in the first match, both stand down.
Fletcher said: ''The odd batting position is up for grabs and the No.3
slot is one of them.
''We have not got an established batting order in mind, so we are just
letting people have a chance at this stage.''
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