West Indies Board XI v Australians Lawrie Colliver/Robert Craddock - 15-17 April 1995 CricInfo report

Day 1

Carl Rackemann showed that age and a Queensland Sheffield Shield will not weary them as the tall fast bowler captured three for 42 in a rain interrupted day's play at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts. The Board Xi closed the day on 8/209 in a day where the last hour of play was lost to rain.

Rackemann helped reduce the Board XI to 7/132 as he and Mark Waugh (2/1 after five overs) caused problems for the Board XI batsmen. It was only a half century from Nehemiah Perry (52 not out at the close) that allowed the Board XI reach the 200 mark. Perry however, had his luck being dropped off Tim May by Mark Waugh when Perry was 49. The South Australia spinner had an up and down day, toiling for 21 overs to capture 2/49, having a dropped catch off his bowling, as well dropping one himself off Mark Waugh earlier in the day.

SIMPSON STILL UNFIT Australian coach, Bob Simpson is still having health problems as he is now suffering further compilcations from a blood clot in his left leg. Simpson's leg became swollen and it was found that he has thrombosis in his left leg.

Simpson visited a doctor in St Kitts, but his condition is not serious, and he will be resting here for the duration of this match.

PONTING SUFFERS FROM ALLERGIC REACTION Tasmanian batsman, Ricky Ponting missed an opportunity to play in this match due to an allergic reaction. A bowl of fish chowder caused the unfortunate reaction as he drove home from a local restaurant. The young batsman has been advised to rest for three days.

Day 2

BLEWETT FINDS FORM WITH 93

South Australian opener Greg Blewett did enough to show tour selectors that he is in good enough form to retain his test spot with a confidence restoring 93 at Warner Oval yesterday.

Blewett faced 151 balls which showed he has enough form to keep his test spot for the remainder of the tour.

His other opponents for the third test number six batting spot, Justin Langer (lbw for a duck) and Ricky Ponting (not playing ill) caused him no discomfort as Blewett confidence grew on a slow wicket.

Earlier, Taylor and Slater added a century stand in good time before both were bowled in the sixties.

Blewett said later that his failures to date had nothing to do with the pace, just the extra bounce. ``Walsh has a real quicker one which can surprise but it is about what I expected. ``There are some guys in the shield competition at home that are as wuick, but it is Walsh's extra bounce which is a real surprise at times.''

Despite this, Television evidence would show that in Bridgetown and Antigua he unlucky to be given out. However, that is cricket and Blewett is a good enough player to play an important role in this series yet.

Day 3

A boring days play produced only two main pieces of importance. Firstly, S.R. Waugh's skidding seamers captured two wickets. He may prove handy on the Port-o-Spain wicket, which has been keeping low this season. Ian Healy injured his hand and had to go off for treatment. Langer took over for a while and later Mark Taylor had a stint behind the stumps. Healy said that he normally wouldn't go off for such an injury, ``It is a concern but I don't think it is broken. ``There may be ligament damage. In four days it should be fine. If I need to I will take pain kiling tablets. ``Normally in a test match I wouldn't have come off for that injury.''

The match was such a low key affair that the Australians let a a young tourist borrow some whites and take out the drinks and even field for an over.

That might not have happened if hospitalised coach Bob Simpson was around but Captain Mark Taylor showed that he had kept his sense of humour.

Thanks: Robert Craddock

Contributed by Lawrie Colliver (colliver@cricinfo.com)