Hinds, Edwards and Best likely to return

Ryan Hinds, who missed the second Test against South Africa with a viral infection, is likely to rejoin the squad for the third Test in Barbados, which starts on April 21. West Indies will also be boosted by the return of Fidel Edwards and Tino Best, who have regained full fitness.

Jacqui King-Mowatt, a member of the medical panel of the West Indian board, was quoted in The Trinidad Express as saying: "There was mild swelling that has gone and he [Hinds] is feeling a lot better than he was. As with any viral infection, it left him feeling tired but he has got progressively stronger. There are still five days before the team assembles in Barbados and a week before the Test and he should be fit enough by then. I'd say we would know by Sunday."

Hinds was replaced by Donovan Pagon, the Jamaican batsman, who is likely to be dropped after he had a miserable second Test, scoring 0 and 2 and also spilling a catch.

King-Mowatt said that Best and Edwards had resumed practice. Both have been out of the squad since the Test series in England last August with back injuries, and returned to first-class cricket only in the later stages of the regional Carib Beer tournament. Best also had to remodel his action because of a persistent back problem. "It was discomfort caused mainly by the kind of boots he was wearing," Kind-Mowatt explained. "He has been practising diligently and looks sharp and keen."

Both have been included in the University of the West Indies Vice-Chancellor's XI, which will play the South Africans in a practice match in Trinidad tomorrow.