Chanderpaul out of ODI series

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, whose brilliant hundred was instrumental in West Indies pulling off an improbable victory in the fourth and final Test against Australia, will miss the one-day series against the world champions and, possibly, the entire series against Sri Lanka after breaking a finger.

Chanderpaul fractured the middle finger on his left hand while taking a catch to dismiss Adam Gilchrist during Australia's first innings at St. John's. Ricky Skerritt, the West Indies team manager, said, "After an assessment by Dr. Akshai Mansingh, a member of the West Indies Cricket Board's medical panel, it was confirmed that Shiv had indeed fractured the tip of the middle finger on his left hand. The fracture was complex and required urgent surgery. The best medical opinion indicates that Shiv will be out of cricket for at least six weeks."

Chanderpaul's absence will be a big blow to West Indian hopes of pulling off an upset in the seven-match one-day series, which starts with a double-header at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica this weekend.

"Shiv batted courageously to withstand the pain and discomfort throughout his match-winning hundred in the second innings of the final Test," said Skerritt.

Meanwhile, Jermaine Lawson - who pulled out with a muscle strain in his lower back after bowling just six overs in Australia's second innings - was expected to be available. Lawson had an eventful match, picking up seven wickets and also being reported by the umpires for chucking.