PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, CMC – Embattled West Indies touched down here yesterday afternoon, to start preparations for the crucial second Test against South Africa starting Boxing Day.
The visitors, still smarting from their heavy innings and 220-run defeat at Centurion in the first Test, arrived to a distinctly Caribbean-flavoured ceremony, involving dancers and steel pan orchestra.
Following a rest day yesterday, the Windies will hold their first training session this evening, as they beef up preparations for the Test they must win if they are to have any chance of clinching the three-match series.
They are expected to be joined shortly by left-arm seamer Kenroy Peters who was called up last weekend to replace injured fast bowler Kemar Roach. Barbadian Roach has been ruled out of the series after injuring his right ankle during the final session of the opening day of the first Test.
There has been no word yet on the arrival of left-hander Narsingh Deonarine, a replacement for the injured Assad Fuddin. West Indies won the last Boxing Day Test here seven years ago, when they beat the hosts 128 runs, but went on to lose the three-match series 2-1.
