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.''