'We are 100% behind Shane' - WI coach

The West Indies team management has said they are fully behind offspinner Shane Shillingford, who was reported for a suspect bowling action by ICC officials after the first Test against Sri Lanka on Friday.

"I had a very good chat with Shane and he understands what is going on," said West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson after a training session at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Sunday. "We are 100% behind Shane. The entire team is behind him and he knows he has our full support. Our job is to keep Shane focussed on the upcoming match and the series.

"From what we have been told, he can play and he comes into our thinking as normal, as we look ahead to the match. We are building towards doing well in the second Test, as we did in the first Test. As a team we are looking forward to the upcoming match. Shane bowled very well for us in the last Test, and he's a key part of our bowling unit."

The 27-year-old spinner had figures of 4 for 123 and 1 for 79 in what was his fourth Test match. He has 21 days from the time the West Indies Cricket Board received the report to submit an independent analysis of his bowling action. Until the WICB receives a report of the assessment, however, Shillingford will be allowed to continue bowling in international cricket, which means he will be available for selection for the second Test against Sri Lanka that begins on November 23 in Colombo.

Shillingford was reported by on-field umpires Steve Davis and Richard Kettleborough, along with third umpire Asad Rauf and fourth umpire Tyron Wijewardene. The umpires' report cited concern over the straightening of Shillingford's arm while he bowled some deliveries.