Key Windies bowlers nursing injuries ahead of series

Kolkata, Nov 2 (IANS) With two of their key bowlers down with shoulder injuries, West Indies have concerns ahead of their Test match against India at the Eden Gardens. However, coach Otis Gibson hopes they would recover in time for the Nov 6 game.

Talking to the media after a three-day warm-up game against Uttar Pradesh here, Gibson said pacer Kemar Roach and offie Shane Shillingford were nursing injuries for which they had to miss the match.

“We rested Shillingford as he slept badly on his neck and had a shoulder problem while Roach has got a shoulder problem as well. But they should be okay by next week,” said Gibson.

Gibson said the inclusion of the duo, with a collective kitty of 133 wickets, would bolster the bowling attack. With the track at Eden Gardens expected to be slow, Gibson said the team would decide later if it will play two spinners.

“Shillingford has been excellent for us in the last couple of Tests. It’s likely that he would play and then we would see who else could fit in,” added Gibson.

Both Gibson and skipper Darren Sammy have been praising Shillingford, who was picked ahead of mystery spinner Sunil Narine.