Rampaul in line for first outing of series

Port of Spain (Trinidad), April 22 (IANS/CMC) West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul could be in line for his first match of the series against Australia when the third and final Test bowls off in Dominica on Monday.

The Trinidadian has been part of the squad since the opening Test in Barbados but is yet to play a match with Fidel Edwards and Kemar Roach preferred as the pace options.

However, captain Darren Sammy said with Edwards carrying a slight injury, Rampaul may be called up as a replacement.

'Fidel has complained about a little niggle, so we have to look at this and Ravi may have to come in for the final Test,' Sammy said. 'He bowled really well for us last year and we know that he is anxious to come out and play.'

Rampaul has been a steady member of the Windies over the last year but illness and injury saw him play just one first class match during the recent regional season.

And though he was selected, coach Ottis Gibson explained this week that the 27-year-old had been still short of match fitness.

'Ravi came back but we just felt he didn't have enough work in terms of bowling so he's been doing that,' Gibson told reporters.

'He's bowling in the middle, he's bowling in the nets everyday to try and top up his workload so when we get to Dominica we will look at what conditions are there.

'Both Fidel and Kemar have bowled a lot of overs in the last two Test matches. We'll look at them and see how they're travelling and see what combination of bowlers we're going to put out in that Dominica Test.'

West Indies trail 0-1 in the series after losing the opening game by three wickets in Barbados. The second Test here finished in a draw on Thursday.

--IANS/CMC

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