TAUNTON, England (CMC)

West Indies suffered another injury scare yesterday when opening batsman Daren Ganga needed stitches for a facial cut he suffered while batting in the nets.

Rain washed out the entire second day of the three-day tour match between West Indies and Somerset at County Ground yesterday.

Chris Gayle and Runako Morton suffered injuries on Saturday, but like Ganga, are expected to be available for the first Test against England, starting Thursday at Lord's.

As persistent rain prevented any play, West Indies vice-captain Ganga suffered the injury while batting in the indoor facility at the Somerset Ground.

The right-handed opening batsman was struck on the helmet by a delivery from fast bowler Daren Powell.

Seven stitches

The helmet remained intact and while the ball did not make direct contact with Ganga's body, he did suffer a cut on his forehead above his left eye which required seven stitches at the local hospital.

It is believed that the inner portion of the helmet caused the cut after the impact from the ball.

"Team physiotherapist, Stephen Partridge, has assured that this injury in no way hampers Ganga's availability for the first Test against England starting at Lord's on Thursday May 17," West Indies Media Officer Imran Khan stated.

Ganga and the other members of the squad were at the time engaged in a training session as a result of continuous rain, which forced the umpires to call off play on the second day of the warm-up fixture.

On Saturday, Ganga had scored two before falling leg before wicket to fast bowler Steffan Jones on day one after the West Indies won the toss and opted to bat first.

After an initial slump at 44 for four, the Windies recovered to end the day on 237 for four with Runako Morton hitting 103 before retiring hurt.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 82 after a solid century stand with Morton.

Gayle suffered a bruised thumb and Morton developed a thigh strain on Saturday and team officials expressed confidence that both will be ready for the Test match on Thursday.

The game is slated to continue today with a scheduled early start half an hour earlier, at 10:30 a.m. (5:30 am Eastern Caribbean Time, 4:30 in Jamaica).

This is West Indies' only warm-up match before the series opener. Saturday's first day was also cut to 48 overs by rain, badly affecting the West Indies thirst for practice ahead of the Lord's Test.


C Gayle b Turner 24
D Ganga lbw Jones 2
D Smith c Hildreth b Jones 5
R Sarwan lbw Jones 10
S Chanderpaul not out 82
R Morton retired hurt 103
D Bravo not out 6
Extras (b1, lb1, nb3) 5
TOTAL (4 wkts, 48.4 overs) 237

To bat: +D Ramdin, D Powell, J Taylor, D Sammy.

Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-32, 3-32, 4-44.

Bowling: Jones 18.4-2-74-3, Turner 10-0-65-1, Andrew 8-0-37-0, Munday 11-0-55-0, Parsons 1-0-4-0.

SOMERSET:Keith Parsons, Peter Trego, Neil Edwards, MK Munday, Ian Blackwell, Gareth Andrew, James Hildreth, Steffan Jones, Matthew Wood, Wes Durston, +Craig Kieswetter, Mark Turner.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: R Palmer, S Garratt.