‘Windies are still strong if Gayle is out’

Eoin Morgan insists England’s task will be made no easier against West Indies even if Chris Gayle’s sore hamstring rules him out of any remaining Royal London Series matches.

Gayle’s one-day international comeback faltered after just one match when he injured himself in the warm-up before the near washout at Trent Bridge, where a no-result after England were able to reach 21 for no wicket in the 2.2 overs possible leaves them 1-0 up with three more matches to play.

The veteran had given England a brief demonstration that he retains all his destructive power hitting with three sixes and two fours from 27 balls at the start of the Windies’ sevenwicket defeat at Old Trafford three days ago.

Gayle was all set to play again, on his 38th birthday, in Nottingham only to feel pain in his right leg and instead end up heading for scans in hospital, leaving his involvement in Bristol on Sunday and beyond in doubt. England captain Morgan said: “Just because they’re missing one player, it doesn’t mean we’ll take them any more lightly in any game.”