Windies wait on Gayle report

The aftermath of Chris Gayle's net session today will determine West Indies' line-up for the third npower Test against England.

With the Old Trafford surface traditionally offering encouragement to the slow bowlers, the West Indians are hoping Gayle can operate in all-rounder capacity from Thursday onwards.

Gayle, who incurred a minor muscle tear in his side last week, is fit to play as a batsman but if he cannot bowl it might allow fellow off-spinner Marlon Samuels a swift route into the team, having been called up as Ramnaresh Sarwan's replacement only days ago.

Of Gayle, coach David Moore said: "We want him to be able to bowl in the nets for us if he is going to do it in the match.

"If he can't bowl then we will obviously have to make some adjustments.

"We certainly want to try to get the balance of the side right and it looks to me like it might turn out there at some stage.

"We would like to have some sort of spinning option, that's for sure. He's the only one who has got Test credentials with regards to his spin bowling."

The batting will definitely be strengthened by the return of Chanderpaul, who has recovered sufficiently from tendinitis in the right knee.

"Any time we play without Shiv he's a massive loss for us because he is such a talented cricketer and the only one of our batters who averages over 40 in Test match cricket," said Moore.

"He is someone we really depend upon to give us some stability in the middle and bottom order - he bats very well with the tail. He is one man who never gives away his wicket, if he gets out the bowler has obviously got him out and has had to work pretty hard to do it."