Cricket: Hooper out of first Test

WHILE England were trying to sort out the situation of their walking wounded, the West Indies were receiving news as depressing as the injuries to Angus Fraser and Andy Caddick were to the opposition, writes Tony Cozier from Barbados.

Carl Hooper, an essential member of their team as much for his off-spin bowling and slip-catching as for his erratic batting, has back problems so severe that they will keep him out of the first one-day international on Wednesday and the first Test starting Saturday.

'Carl told me this morning his back is so sore and stiff that he can hardly tie his shoelaces,' David Holford, West Indies' chief selector, said. 'He'll have to have an orthopaedic examination to tell the extent of the problem but it's clear we can't think of him until after the first Test.'