PORT-OF-SPAIN, April 16: West Indies fast bowler Jermaine Lawson will miss the second test against Australia after going down with chicken pox while wicket-keeper Ridley Jacobs is also out with a groin muscle injury, a team spokesman said on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old Lawson, who took 2-111 and 1-31 in the first Test, would return to his native Jamaica and hoped to recover for the third Test in Barbados, the official said.

Lawson, regarded as one of the West Indies most promising fast bowlers, completed his first tour last year in India and Bangladesh. Tino Best will fly out from Barbados on Wednesday to take Lawson’s place in the squad.

Jacobs was ruled out after doctor Terry Ali confirmed that the 34-year-old had torn a muscle in the groin region.

Jacobs suffered the injury during the first innings against Australia but batted on bravely make 54 not out, sharing in a sixth-wicket partnership of 131 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Jacobs also came out to bat in the second innings despite being in obvious pain.

There was better news for the West Indies, however, after Chanderpaul and vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan were both passed fit to play.

Chanderpaul suffered a painful knock on the knee after making 100 in the first innings of the first Test. He needed a runner for the second and did not field.

Sarwan missed the first Test because of a fractured finger.

West Indies, crushed by nine wickets in four days in the first Test, initially named a 15-man squad for the second match with Jamaican opener Chris Gayle again being left out.

Gayle was controversially omitted from the first Test match after the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB) initially declared him ineligible.

The squad includes 20-year-old off-spinner Omari Banks, the first player from the island of Anguilla to be called up to the senior West Indies side.—Reuters