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Thorpe warns of West Indies wrath

Myles Hodgson
Wednesday 17 March 2004 01:00 GMT
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Graham Thorpe has personal experience of how dangerous an opponent can be when they have been humbled in the manner of the West Indies during the opening Test at Sabina Park.

Graham Thorpe has personal experience of how dangerous an opponent can be when they have been humbled in the manner of the West Indies during the opening Test at Sabina Park.

The Surrey left-hander is the sole survivor of the England line-up humiliated in Trinidad 10 years ago when Curtly Ambrose claimed 6 for 24. England picked themselves up to win the next Test in Barbados days later, and Thorpe is aware West Indies can do the same at the Queen's Park Oval, the scene of England's hammering a decade ago.

"They will be hurt because we were hurt," Thorpe said. "You're professional sportsmen and you have to get on with it and get stuck in. Your pride is hurt and you do as much as you can to turn the game around."

West Indies were plagued by reports of partying on Saturday evening hours before the batting collapse the following morning. Manager Ricky Skerritt, who is already investigating claims that four players were seen enjoying themselves at the party stand at Sabina Park immediately after the defeat, said: "I can't say for sure whether every player was in their room before a certain time. We certainly don't take kindly to players partying during a match or before a match day."

The West Indies have made one change to the squad for the second Test, with the inclusion of Pedro Collins. The left-arm fast bowler replaces his half-brother, the injured Fidel Edwards.

WEST INDIES SQUAD (Second Test, Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad, Friday): B C Lara (capt), C H Gayle, Devon S Smith, Dwayne R Smith, R R Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, R L Powell, R O Hinds, R D Jacobs, C D Collymore, A Sanford, T L Best, P Collins.

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