Windies outlook grim

Manchester - After five days of welcome warmth and sunshine, the weather for which this city is infamous ' grey and wet ' greeted the West Indies in Manchester yesterday.

Their own outlook for the third Test starting Thursday that will unlock the series is equally unsettled.

With Shivnarine Chanderpaul eliminated by his damaged right forearm tendon, the selectors have to determine what to do about filling his place without the usual guide of form.

They also have to determine whether Reon King's gradual and worrying decline warrants his exclusion and, if so, who should replace him.

The concern over Brian Lara doesn't so much surround his tight right hamstring muscle as his lack of meaningful batting since his 87 against Zimbabwe at Chester-le-Street on July 18, his third halfcentury in the one-day series.

'I wouldn't expect to be fully,100 per cent fit because there's still some tightness but I don't anticipate any difficulties since the pace of Test cricket is less intense than what it is for one-day cricket,' Lara said.

So he will take his usual place at No.4, one down from Wavell Hinds, the only one of the younger batsmen to advance of his first tour of England, and one above captain Jimmy Adams.

Who fills a couple of the other spots will occupy much of the attention when the selectors ' Adams, vice-captain Sherwin Campbell, coach Roger Harper and assistant coach Jeffrey Dujon ' meet tomorrow night.

Adrian Griffith, Chris Gayle and Ramnaresh Sarwan are the only batsmen remaining so the options are obvious if not uncomplicated.

Griffith and Gayle are the choices to open with Campbell but both have presented weak cases in the two county matches leading up to the Tests ' Griffith 5, 3 not out and 10, Gayle 1, 7 not out and 16.

Gayle's steady off-spin gives him an advantage but those who make the decisions are known to be reluctant to place him at the top, in spite of his success with Jamaica in last season's Busta Cup.

He batted at No. 3 and then No. 6 in his three Tests in the Caribbean and was similarly shifted down the order in the one-day internationals.

Hinds opened in a couple of one-day matches here but the plan quickly failed and he went back to where he is likely to belong for the remainder of his career.

The decision should be between Griffith and Gayle because Sarwan, for all his annoying impetuosity that has got him out so often on this tour, is a rare talent. His unbeaten, debut 84 against Pakistan indicates a big match temperament.

King's struggles have been a real disappointment. Hopefully, it is only a passing phase.

Consistent performances in the Test series in New Zealand and in the Caribbean against Zimbabwe and Pakistan meant that he arrived in England as the No. 3 to Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh and the fastest of the bowlers.

Gradually, and inexplicably, his confidence has been eroded in direct relation to his loss of rhythm.

His three-wicket burst in the last One-Day International against England, when he removed Macus Trescothick, Andy Flintoff and Graeme Hick in the space of 12 balls encouraged optimism of a return to his best but he was punished for 89 runs from 18 overs for a solitary wicket against Leicestershire over the weekend.

Nixon McLean has made strong claims for a place in the county matches with 25 wickets, more than anyone else, and Mahendra Nagamootoo has shown he wouldn't be out of place in Test cricket.

Pace ahead of spin has become an established West Indian mantra so the choice would seem to be between King and McLean.