Jamaica’s Shields out of final Test with injury

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand:

The West Indies' fast bowling unit has been dealt another setback with fast bowler Ojay Shields ruled out of the third and final Test match, which started on Thursday at the Bay Oval.

The 29-year-old Jamaican, who made his debut in the opening Test, has taken five wickets in the first two matches of the series.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, West Indies skipper Roston Chase revealed that Alick Atahanze had been named as his replacement.

"We've announced our team, and we have one change with Ojay Shields out and Alick Athanaze is in. Shields has an injury," Chase said.

Despite the team's devastating defeat in the second Test, which they lost by nine wickets inside three days, Chase said the mood in the camp was still good.

He said the squad had spent two days relaxing and bonding and was in good spirits heading into the final match of the series.

"The mood is still good. I spoke to the guys and told them that we drew the first game, we lost the second, so the only thing left for us to do is to win and we just have to keep believing.

"I think that we've had some sparks of brilliance throughout the series, and it's just for us to put them together for a longer period of time, especially in the batting," he said.

"I think the bowling has been doing an excellent job, but we're just trying to find a way to get that 300 score in the first innings," Chase said.

"We think that if we can post that 300-run total in the first innings it would go a long way in us winning a Test match here."

- CMC