Windies ready to fight back

David Moore (back) and Ramnaresh Sarwan know West Indies must bounce back

West Indies coach David Moore promises his team will not "lie down" in the remainder of their npower Test series against England.

Moore did not try to make excuses for the tourists’ abject performance in their record defeat at Headingley Carnegie – but insisted he retains faith in the players he has at his disposal to fight back from a 1-0 deficit in the final two Tests.

The Windies are highly likely to have to do that without captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was unable to bat in either innings in Leeds after injuring a shoulder joint while fielding.

A team spokesman confirmed meetings were planned for Tuesday afternoon to discuss Sarwan’s participation at Old Trafford next week and then Chester-le-Street in the last Test.

All indications from the man himself, Moore – and others who may conceivably be in the know – appear to point to a flight home for Sarwan, the elevation of his deputy Daren Ganga to the captaincy and the summoning into the squad of a replacement batsman.

The latest official word nonetheless remains with Moore, who said after Monday’s innings-and-283-run second-Test defeat – the heaviest in Windies’ history: “We’ll assess Ronnie’s (Sarwan) fitness in the next day or so and will then make a decision about what he’s going to be doing over next few weeks.

“As soon as we make a decision where he is at, we won’t be playing one short. If he’s ruled out for a long period of time, a replacement will be called asap.”

Sarwan leaves the field at Headingley Carnegie

Sarwan’s absence as a batsman and leader handicapped his team as they were twice bowled out for less than 150 in pursuit of 570 to make the hosts bat again at Headingley Carnegie.

But Moore refused to cite the captain’s misfortune – or that of another injured lynchpin batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul – as mitigation for all the faulty cricket their team-mates played.

“Although it leaves a massive hole, we can’t afford to let such things to get in our way. It doesn’t do you any good to let your head drop,” he observed.

That, however, appeared to be what happened to many – with Dwayne Bravo (52) once again an honourable exception, in the second innings at least.

"There will certainly be questions asked on both the batting and bowling side,” said Moore, who admitted too that a series of poor shots contributed to the Windies’ double capitulation, notwithstanding the fine swing bowling of Ryan Sidebottom.

The latter took eight wickets in the match and, on his first Test appearance for six years and only his second in all, was by far the pick of an England pace attack.

Moore, coach only on an interim basis until a permanent appointment is made in November, is beset meanwhile by rumours about the possible return of retired master batsman Brian Lara as captain.

The Windies missed Shiv Chanderpaul in Leeds

He quickly dispelled those – before vowing his team will do all they can to fight back, with Chanderpaul likely to return after sitting out Headingley with knee trouble.

“There are two Tests to go. We’re still going to have a crack,” he said.

“What do you want us to do – lie down? We’re not going to do that.”

With or without Sarwan, Moore is highly likely to have to look beyond those who took the field for the first Test two Tests.

The Windies have only a match in Durham against a MCC side before they report to Manchester next week – but Moore will be assessing his options.

“We’ve been looking since the first Test to see who are going to be the best bowlers to take us through,” he said.

“Over the last few games, the three we took into this game have been doing a job for us. In the Test series in Pakistan they did a reasonable job for us – and throughout the World Cup they did as well.”

The pace of Fidel Edwards and promise of Ravi Rampaul and Darren Sammy are available to Moore, however, and he added: “As always, at the end of every game you have to work out where your players are at and who’s going to be able to contribute to give us the best chance of winning a game.

“These are the 15 best guys we could have picked – and they need to work hard to develop their cricket and confidence to get good results on the board.”