Struggling West Indies saw Chris Gayle and Ravi Rampaul retire injured during an unconvincing warm-up display ahead of the third Test against England.

The tourists failed to bowl out a weak MCC team, who put on a spirited performance at Durham's Racecourse ground, ending the day on 234-7.

Gayle's withdrawal shortly after lunch was a precautionary measure after the opening batsman suffered a minor tear in his rib muscle, while Rampaul was taken to hospital for a scan on a fresh thigh injury and has been ruled out of taking part at Old Trafford.

A notable omission from the West Indies side was Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who missed the second Test against England at Headingley with a knee injury, along with Corey Collymore and Dwane Bravo, both of whom featured in Leeds.

Daren Ganga took over the captaincy as expected from the injured Ramnaresh Sarwan, but the skipper's newly announced batting replacement, Marlon Samuels, was rested ahead of next week's crucial clash.

The one positive for the visitors was the bowling of Jerome Taylor, who took five wickets to cap an impressive individual performance.

MCC, captained by former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, won the toss and opted to bat.

Ireland's Will Portersfield and fellow opener Paul Dixey found little joy from the West Indies opening bowling pair Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards, who looked lively and found good pace in the wicket.

Dixey was dismissed without score in the eighth over when he was caught off guard by a short pitch and unpredictable Edwards delivery, miscuing his hook and looping behind to Ruako Morton at slip.

Powell bowled economically for seven overs - allowing Portersfield a rare boundary in the 11th - before he was replaced by fellow pace man Jerome Taylor.

Taylor, who took English wickets in both Test matches, made an instant impact by bowling Zoheb Sharis for eight in his second over, and then surprising the resilient Portersfield with a swinging full toss which caught the batsman lbw for 21.

MCC batsmen Evans and Morris gave a strong response after lunch and frustrated West Indian bowlers Powell and particularly Daren Sammy.

Morris eventually went for 30, when a brisk Taylor ball was edged and taken behind by Randin and Evans followed shortly after - having reached an impressive 51 - in the same manner.

Sri Lankan legend Jayasuriya treated the Durham crowd to some excellent strokes in a brief innings before swinging wildly at a fast Taylor deliver and being caught at slip by Morton.

The final session saw some competent batting from the MCC side, who lost just one further wicket.

Simon Butler fell for 12 to a rasping Sammy seamer with the score at 188-7, providing a brief cause for celebration amongst the West Indies ranks.

Mali Richards - son of West Indies legend Vivian - replaced him and helped MCC over the 200 mark, boasting an array of neatly-timed shots and frustrating Sammy and Powell.

It was not the response that the West Indies were hoping for after conceding their all-time biggest Test defeat last week in Leeds and, as their injury situation worsens, manager, Mike Findlay, will be looking for a marked improvement when they take the field again this morning.

Chris Silverwood's nine-wicket haul put Middlesex in a winning position heading into the final day of their LV County Championship Division Two clash against Somerset today.

Somerset's feeble - and controversial - 50 for eight first-innings declaration meant the hosts always had the upper hand at Lord's, replying with 252.

Justin Langer's team had another go and managed 339 despite Silverwood adding six wickets from 21 overs to the three he took earlier in the match to total nine for 62.

Middlesex then reached 72 for one at stumps to leave them requiring just 66 on the final day.

In Division One, Muttiah Muralitharan took five wickets for Lancashire against Sussex to set up an intriguing finale at Hove.

In response to Lancashire's 330, Sussex laboured to 235.