West Indies batsman Brian Lara is expected to be fit for Thursday's Champions Trophy Group A match against India. The left-hander suffered back spasms while scoring 71 in a tense 10-run victory over world champions Australia on a slow Brabourne Stadium pitch last week.
"We are expecting and hoping Lara will be fine for the match," coach Bennett King told reporters on Monday. Lara put on 137 for the fifth wicket with Runako Morton (90 not out) to haul the defending champions back into the contest after the team had lost early wickets.
Skipper Lara was absent when Australia chased and vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan stood in as young paceman Jerome Taylor became the first West Indian to take a hat-trick in one-day cricket. Batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, down with food poisoning, and injured pace bowler Fidel Edwards missed the previous match.
"Everyone's fine," King said. Corey Collymore is also expected to return in time for the next match. The fast bowler had skipped the Australia match to be with his wife during the birth of their first child.