Chanderpaul under injury cloud

Shivnarine Chanderpaul visited hospital as rain washed out the opening day of the third Test at Edgbaston for examination on a side strain.

He was noticed leaving the ground earlier in the day and made the journey with team manager Richie Richardson and physio C.J. Clark. After play was abandoned a West Indies spokesman confirmed the situation. "A day off gives him a day off to see how he goes," he said. "He has been to hospital for a scan."

Chanderpaul did not bat during the two training days ahead of this Test having also sat out the two-day tour match against Leicestershire last weekend. In the first two games of the series he has scored 235 runs and twice came close to scoring a hundred at Lord's.

With the toss delayed neither team has been confirmed for the match and the rain could yet give Chanderpaul extra time to recover. There are two reserve batsmen in the squad - Narsingh Deonarine and Assad Fudadin - although one of those was already expected to replace the out-of-from Kirk Edwards who has endured a dismal tour.

CHANDERPAUL MISSES ANOTHER CENTURY

Chanderpaul injury not serious, could play in 3rd Test

Birmingham: West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul could play in the rain-affected third and final Test against England at Edgbaston after scan results showed a side injury was not serious.

The scan showed a strain to his side and no tear, so he could still be involved, a West Indies team spokesman said on Friday.

With Thursday and Friday's play washed out, the teams are yet to be named. Should Chanderpaul, who averages 50 from 142 Tests, be forced out of the match it would mean the end of his tour as he is not in West Indies squad for the one-day series which begins on June 16.

England are seeking to sweep the series 3-0 after wins at Lord's and Trent Bridge. The damp conditions at Edgbaston meant it was the first occasion in 48 years that the opening two days of a Test in England had been washed out, since Australia toured in 1964.

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul could play in the rain-affected third and final Test against England at Edgbaston after scan results showed a side injury was not serious.

The scan showed a strain to his side and no tear, so he could still be involved, a West Indies team spokesman said on Friday.

With Thursday and Friday's play washed out, the teams are yet to be named.

Should Chanderpaul, who averages 50 from 142 Tests, be forced out of the match it would mean the end of his tour as he is not in West Indies squad for the one-day series which begins on June 16.

England are seeking to sweep the series 3-0 after wins at Lord's and Trent Bridge.

The damp conditions at Edgbaston meant it was the first occasion in 48 years that the opening two days of a Test in England had been washed out, since Australia toured in 1964.