Gayle declared fit for third Test

Chris Gayle, the West Indian opener, has been passed fit for the third Test against England, which starts on Thursday at Old Trafford. Gayle had damaged a rib muscle while fielding against MCC on the first day of their three-day tour match at the Racecourse Ground. Gayle took no further part in that match and there were question-marks over his availability for the third Test.

Gayle's recovery is good news for a West Indian team which has been plagued by fitness worries on this tour. Ramnaresh Sarwan has already been ruled out of the rest of the series with a shoulder injury, Shivnarine Chanderpaul sat out of the second Test because of a knee problem, while fast bowler Ravi Rampaul hurt his groin while bowling against MCC and will miss the third Test.

Gayle has been in patchy form on the tour so far, with scores of 30, 47 not out, 11 and 13 in his four Test innings. In his five previous Tests in England, Gayle averaged more than 44, with four 50-plus scores in nine innings. West Indies won't mind him replicating that form through the rest of this series.