HARARE, Zimbabwe (Reuters) - The West Indies can welcome back fit-again Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the first Test against Zimbabwe today, but they are likely to be without all-rounder Omari Banks.
Stalwart batsman Chanderpaul missed the last Test against Sri Lanka in June with a broken finger but he is likely to be included in the team although he faces a challenge for his place from Daren Ganga, who scored 110 and 69 not out in a drawn tour match against Zimbabwe A in Harare at the weekend.
Chanderpaul came through the game scoring 102 in the first innings, while budding fast bowler Jerome Taylor took match figures of 10 for 122 with paceman Vasbert Drakes claiming five for 66 in the first innings.
``We had a practice game that gave us three centuries and young Taylor getting 10 wickets and Drakes also getting among the wickets,'' West Indies captain Brian Lara said yesterday.
He added: ``It's going to be tough selecting the final XI because a lot of guys are performing well.''
The only bad news for the visitors is Banks's likely omission. The off-spinning all-rounder has been laid low with a stomach complaint for the past four days and Lara rated him as ``very doubtful'' for the match.
``When you sit down to pick a team you like to have some variety,'' said Lara, reflecting on the fact Banks is the only specialist slow bowler in the squad.
The West Indies will be favourites to beat a Zimbabwean side that lags well behind the visitors in terms of experience, and has been weakened by injury.
Senior batsman Grant Flower is out of the series with a broken finger, as are all-rounder Sean Ervine, who has a knee injury, and medium pacer Douglas Hondo (thigh).
STILL RECOVERING
Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak said his team was still recovering from the retirements of seasoned batsmen Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell, all-rounder Guy Whittall and fast bowler Henry Olonga during and after the 2003 World Cup.
``We were inconsistent against England (from May to July), but we found a good balance during the Australian series (last month) and I'm happy with the make-up of the side at the moment,'' he said.
Streak confirmed that uncapped Vusimuzi Sibanda would open the innings with Trevor Gripper. Sibanda is an attacking young batsman who scored a polished 51 for Zimbabwe A in the first innings of the tour match.
``Sibanda's got a good mind on him and he's positive and backs his own ability,'' Streak said. ``Hopefully he takes his chance with both hands.''
Teams:
Zimbabwe: Vusimuzi Sibanda, Trevor Gripper, Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Mark Vermeulen, Tatenda Taibu, Andy Blignaut, Heath Streak (capt.), Ray Price, Blessing Mahwire.
West Indies (from): Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Daren Ganga, Brian Lara (capt), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Marlon Samuels, Carlton Baugh Jr., Ridley Jacobs, Omari Banks, Vasbert Drakes, Jerome Taylor, Corey Collymore, Fidel Edwards, Mervyn Dillon, Ravi Rampaul.