England issued a warning by Windies

ENGLAND have been warned the West Indies are primed to “put fear in the opposition’s hearts” on a St Lucia pitch that calls to mind the heyday of Caribbean quicks.

That was the assessment of fast bowling coach Vasbert Drakes after he assessed the surface at the Daren Sammy Stadium, where England will play Test cricket for the first time on Saturday.

After thrashings in Barbados and Antigua, the tourists are looking to avert a clean sweep of defeats and will be doing so on a track renowned as the most rapid in the region.

With Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel and Alzarri Joseph already leaving their mark on England’s batsmen during a bruising second Test and the hulking Oshane Thomas vying to replace the suspended Jason Holder, things could be about to get lively in Gros Islet.

“We’re looking forward to playing cricket in St Lucia. It reminds me of the wickets that were prepared for us in the 70s and 80s,” said Drakes, who played 12 Tests as well as enjoying a long stint in county cricket.

“The objective is to make sure we have pace. I wouldn’t use the words so strong to say ‘intimidate with pace’ but when you have pace, as someone who played the game as a fast bowler, it gives you a little more option of being able to outfox the batters.

“Kemar Roach has really started to mature as a bowler, Shannon Gabriel has the X-factor for us. I’m really excited to be part of this squad where we continue to put fear in the opposition heart.

“At the moment that’s what we have in our favour so we’re going to utilise it to our advantage on the cricket field.

“It’s unfortunate for Jason to miss out but those are the rules we have to live with. It just opens up a spot for Oshane Thomas or whoever the selectors decide to go for.”

The uncapped Thomas will go head to head with Keemo Paul for Holder’s place in the side, which will be led by Kraigg Brathwaite.

Holder has travelled with the team despite his suspension for slow overrates and will be on hand throughout the Test.