Gavin Wallace

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

West Indies 'A' team captain Darren Sammy has declared his side ready to tackle touring England in a three-day warm-up match starting today at Warner Park.

The Windies 'A' squad comprises several Test prospects and Sammy says they are "focused and ready" for the match.

"This is a big opportunity for all of us," Sammy said after an intense training session yesterday.

"The players are ready for this match. This is a chance to push for selection in the West Indies team for the Tests and One-Day matches against England," the tall right-handed all-rounder said.

Last tune-up

The game is the last tune-up for England before the first Digicel Test match in Jamaica starting next Wednesday and the tourists are resting key player Andrew Flintoff after the big all-rounder was bothered by soreness in his left side during their tour opener against St Kitts and Nevis.

Sammy is one of five players with international experience that West Indies 'A' will use to test England.

Sammy, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Amit Jaggernauth have all played Test cricket, while Lendl Simmons and Leon Johnson have appeared in One-Day Internationals.

Chattergoon is a late inclusion in the side. He replaced promising teenager Darren Bravo, who withdrew from the game because of a fractured finger.

Others in the Caribbean side, including new leg-spinning sensation Gavin Wallace, want to use the opportunity to boost their claims for future selection.

England's management got an encouraging medical report on Flintoff showing "no major damage" but will not risk him in this game.

"He is still a little sore but the scan results were good, so hopefully he will be ready for the first Test," said Andy Flower, of England's coaching staff.

"It's not ideal but he'll certainly be okay bowling-wise. He could go straight into a Test match, he's experienced enough to go straight in," Flower said at a pre-match press conference.

TEAMS:

WINDIES 'A' - Darren Sammy (captain), Adrian Barath, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Kieran Powell, Leon Johnson, Lendl Simmons, Devon Thomas, Kevin McClean, Brandon Bess, Amit Jaggernauth, Gavin Wallace.

ENGLAND - Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Owais Shah, Matt Prior, Graeme Swann, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson, Steve Harmison.