Scan eases Strauss hamstring concerns

England are hopeful that Andrew Strauss will recover from a slight hamstring strain he picked up during the Twenty20 international against West Indies in time to lead the side in the opening ODI, in Guyana, on Friday.

Strauss underwent a scan on Tuesday which showed no major damage, but couldn't take a full part in the team's fitness session. However, he still has two more days to ensure he is able to take his place in the team for what would be his first ODI since the 2007 World Cup. Where he will bat is still unclear after he went in at No. 6 during the Twenty20 defeat on Sunday.

Strauss has been rapidly shoe-horned back into the one-day plans following his quick appointment as captain in January. Given all the upheaval after Kevin Pietersen's resignation the ECB felt they needed some stability in the captaincy of all the sides, although Strauss's long-term future at one-day level is still uncertain.

If he fails to recover in time for the opening ODI it will be interesting to see who steps into his captaincy shoes. Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood have all captained England in ODIs and Collingwood would be the likeliest option should a stand-in be required.

Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, has also been hit by a hamstring injury which he collected during the final Test in Trinidad. He missed the Twenty20, when the captaincy passed to Denesh Ramdin, but has returned to the squad for the one-day internationals.