West Indies wait on Chanderpaul's fitness

The West Indies are hoping their injured batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul receives the all-clear to resume playing later this week as they attempt to engineer his return for the final Test against England.

The West Indies are hoping their injured batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul receives the all-clear to resume playing later this week as they attempt to engineer his return for the final Test against England.

Chanderpaul has not played since the West Indies' second-Test defeat at Lord's six weeks ago, having aggravated a right forearm injury during that match, missing the one-day series and the Old Trafford Test.

He has been ruled out of the fourth Test at Headingley, starting tomorrow, leaving him with just next week's match against Somerset to prove his fitness before the final Test at The Oval starts on 31 August.

"We've taken Shiv to see a specialist in Leeds and we will make a decision when we get the results back on Friday," said the tour manager Ricky Skerritt. "He has healed well in the last week and if we can get him playing against Somerset, he has a realistic chance of featuring in the final Test."

But if Chanderpaul fails to receive a positive result from specialists this week, the West Indies' management may have to consider sending him home.

"We've not considered a negative result from the tests, but if that happens then Shiv may well have played his last game on this tour," admitted Skerritt. "I wouldn't have thought we would send for a replacement because we only have one match before the final Test, but the selectors will make a decision on that if necessary."

The fast bowler Franklyn Rose is also doubtful for the fourth Test after twisting his ankle at Derby last week and he could be replaced by Nixon McLean, who took 5 for 49 on his previous visit to Headingley, during West Indies' 10-wicket victory over Yorkshire before the last Test.

If early indications are accurate, McLean may not get much of a look-in with the opener Sherwin Campbell saying that yesterday's first inspection of the surface revealed a dry pitch, which could suit Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose.

"It looks a bit dry and it will depend on who bowls best on it," said Campbell. "I thought there might be a bit more grass on it, but it doesn't matter what the wicket's like if you don't bowl well on it."

Chris Gayle, who has not featured since making a duck in the opening Test, is also a contender to come in as a replacement for Ramnaresh Sarwan in the middle order.