Gibson awaits Roach and Rampaul news

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson is hopeful bowlers Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul will be fit for the first Test against England.

The Caribbean outfit's preparations for an English summer have hardly got off to the best of starts with adverse weather hitting their warm-up plans, before the side slumped to a 10-wicket defeat at the hands of England Lions. There were some signs of encouragement in their first full match but perhaps not enough to suggest they will upset the odds when the serious action gets underway at Lord's on Thursday. Roach picked up a foot injury that meant he could not bowl in the second innings against the Lions, while Rampaul was restricted to four overs as he was suffering with a neck problem. Gibson said: "Kemar Roach has twisted his left foot, and it was a precaution as much as anything that he didn't bowl. "Ravi Rampaul woke up with a stiff neck [on Sunday morning]. "We have to be a little bit careful with Lord's in mind," added the former England bowling coach. "It is a bit of a disappointment they [the seamers] have not bowled much. But we are here to play Test matches and we hope it will be all right."