Rain frustrates West Indies
08/05/2012
The West Indies cricket team gained little practice from their opening tour match against Sussex at Hove, as rain allowed just 34 overs to be bowled during that time.
It enabled five visiting batsmen - Adrian Barath, Kirk Edwards and Keiron Powell, plus the not out pair of Darren Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, to spend at least a little time in the middle.
But it was scant practice and both Bravo and Chanderpaul were left nursing bruises after being struck by rising deliveries.
Fans booking hospitality packages for the Trent Bridge Test may fancy England's chances at a ground that has come to favour swing bowling in recent years.
Former England captain Alec Stewart recently told the BBC he felt that the Caribbean side's batsmen would mostly struggle to cope with the technical demands of playing in early-season English conditions.
He said the "magnificent" Chanderpaul - now top of the official rankings for Test batsmen - is an exception to this but suggested he will not be backed up by his team-mates.
By Ted Walker