Johannesburg, Dec 11: Injury-ridden West Indies may be forced to gamble on greenhorn fast bowlers Fidel Edwards and Ravi Rampaul in their first Test against South Africa starting at the Wanderers Stadium here tomorrow. The visitors will be seeking to reverse memories of a crushing defeat inflicted during their last tour of South Africa in 1998-99 when they were hammered in all five Tests.

Edwards, 21, has made a dramatic start to his international career, with 14 wickets in his first three Tests, but Rampaul, 19, has yet to play in a Test.

The youngsters are likely to spearhead the attack together with veteran Mervyn Dillon.

West Indian fast bowler Jerome Taylor has had to return home with a back injury, while Vasbert Drakes and Corey Collymore have both had injury problems.

Drakes has been out of action after suffering a side strain during the tour of Zimbabwe last month but he is expected to be fit for the Test.

Collymore did not bowl in a four-day warm-up match against free state last weekend because of a hamstring strain.

While Collymore was forced out of the action in Bloemfontein, Rampaul took five wickets for 55 runs in the first innings against free state to suggest to the tour selectors that he was ready to take a step up in class.

Edwards, short of stature but able to generate considerable pace with a slingy action reminiscent of former Pakistan star Waqar Younis, was selected for the West Indies after playing in only one first-class match for Barbados. Bureau Report