Gayle lifts strike threat

West Indies captain Chris Gayle said on Thursday that his side has decided against strike action during the final one-day international against England in St Lucia on Friday.

Gayle said the West Indies Players' Association and the West Indies Cricket Board had come to an agreement that would allow the match to take place, but the two sides were still negotiating.

"They are having discussions at the moment, but we will be playing this match," Gayle told reporters.

"Based on what we've heard, things seem to be breaking down properly and hopefully it will all finish off well.

"There's a possibility things won't finish (on Thursday), but at least we're getting somewhere so basically we've agreed to play on Friday.

I said before, if I wasn't going to be playing in the game I wouldn't be here in St. Lucia, I'd be at home."

Gayle had raised the threat level on the eve of the fourth ODI in Barbados last Saturday in protest to a contract and pay dispute with the WICB.

But sufficient progress appears to have been made to allow him and his teammates to prepare for the series decider against Andrew Strauss's men.

"We're totally focused even though a lot of things have been happening off the field," Gayle said. GROS ISLET, St Lucia, AFP