Strauss fitness a concern

England are keeping an eye on the fitness of captain Andrew Strauss ahead of Fridays opening ODI against West Indies at the Guyana National Stadium.

The tourists are hoping Strauss recovers from a hamstring problem he sustained during the T20 International on Sunday in Trinidad. Paul Collingwood will lead the side should Strauss be unfit to do so.

England will be looking for some inspiration from either Strauss or Collingwood in their pursuit of a first international victory on their winter travels. Englands batting on the Caribbean trip has been sound,but their bowling has been a weak link,and it will be interesting to see what combination they choose for the match in typically flat conditions. Andrew Flintoff would give the bowling an edge but he is not expected to take the field until the third ODI.

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The West Indies too have had concerns about their captain but Chris Gayle has recovered from the strained right hamstring he sustained in the final Test in Trinidad and was named in the 13-member squad. Gayle was sidelined for Sundays Twenty20 International which the West Indies won by six wickets at Queens Park Oval.

He is one of three changes to the squad with Nikita Miller replacing fellow left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn,and Daren Powell coming in for fellow Jamaican Jerome Taylor who has a left calf strain. A place has also been found for Dwayne Bravo,after he played Sundays T20 game with little complaint.

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