It is a measure of how much things have changed since the West Indies' glory days that the overwhelming feeling amongst home cricket fans ahead of their tour of England is sympathy.

Chris Gayle's prospects of representing the West Indies again look grimmer than ever after he was left out of the WICB's 30-man squad for a fitness and training camp ahead of the home series against Australia.

Speedster Fidel Edwards hopes to touch the 160 kmph-mark in the next one year and get closer to the fastest delivery ever unleashed by Pakistani Shoaib Akhtar and Australian Shaun Tait.

West Indies woman cricketer Tremayne Smartt was on Saturday suspended for five months by the ICC for failing a dope test after a Twenty20 match against Pakistan in September.

West Indies batting legend Brian Lara has described the Caribbean cricket infrastructure as "terrible" and says it will take much more than just talent for the regional side to emerge from the prevailing slump.

Fritz Harris, general secretary of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), said a mediator should be brought in to adjudicate the ongoing dispute between Chris Gayle and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Patience and restraint were in short supply from both teams in the post-lunch session. West Indies were in pursuit of quick runs to maximise their lead.

The West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) has sued the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for $20 million for refusing to issue unconditional no objection certificates to players not on retainer contracts with the regional governing body.

Legendary pacer Courtney Walsh has been appointed manager for the West Indies Under-19 team's tour of the US starting July 8.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has reached out to Chris Gayle to resolve the latest impasse over his exclusion from the national team.