da bet7： Ricky Skerritt expects the injured Wavell Hinds will bepassed fit to join the West Indies team in Sri Lanka nextweek
Haydn Gill31-Oct-2001Ricky Skerritt expects the injured Wavell Hinds will bepassed fit to join the West Indies team in Sri Lanka nextweek.Moments before departure for the subcontinent yesterday, theWest Indies manager said his information from doctorssuggested that the Jamaican left-hander’s broken nose couldbe speedily rectified.It’s a broken bone in effect, but from what they tell me,it’s a very repairable job in a quick time, Skerritt toldreporters at the Club Caribbean Lounge at the Grantley AdamsInternational Airport.I am not at liberty to make any official announcement, butthe impression I get at this point is that Wavell will begoing on tour. I have not heard anything to suggest thatwouldn’t happen.Some observers, however, were baffled to hear that Hindscould be in a position to travel next Monday after having anoperation three days earlier.It’s not an operation in terms of a broken leg or anythinglike that, Skerritt said.It’s a question of mending whatever internal repairs to thearea around the nose. From what the doctor I spoke to toldme, it’s a pretty routine thing which sportsmen can dealwith.Hinds, himself a replacement in the team for the injuredShivnarine Chanderpaul, suffered the blow when he top-edgeda ball into his face from former West Indies fast bowler andcurrent selector Joel Garner in Sunday’s annual MelbourneClub Festival in Jamaica.Skerritt pointed out that because of tremendous swelling,the operation could not be performed until Friday.Hinds’ injury comes at a time when there was lots ofuncertainty surrounding the fitness of key players ahead ofthe tour.Chanderpaul’s aching back sidelined him, while championleft-hander Brian Lara and reliable wicket-keeper/batsmanRidley Jacobs were only passed fit after the squad had beenselected.Against the background that the West Indies had to send backhome five casualties early on their tour of Zimbabwe a fewmonths ago, team coach Roger Harper was asked if he feltcomfortable that there would not be a repeat.I have to trust the judgement of the medical personnel, heresponded.They examined the gentlemen thorough examinations duringthe camp in Jamaica. They were satisfied with what they saw.Harper described Jacobs as the sort of character, who, oncecommitted to going on tour, would give his all.On Lara, the West Indies coach said: Brian has had an injurywhich has been plaguing him for a while.The doctors feel that it is an injury that can be managed,providing he follows the proper management rehabilitationprogrammes.