MANCHESTER, Aug 11: England will show no mercy to West Indies when they go into the third Test starting on Thursday at Old Trafford already 2-0 up in the series. The hosts look set to name the same team that thrashed Brian Lara's side in the second Test at Edgbaston after off-spinner Gareth Batty was released from the squad.

England, chasing their ninth win in 10 Tests, originally included Batty and fellow spinner Ashley Giles in the squad because of the chance of turn on the Old Trafford pitch. Heavy rain in Manchester, however, has made the wicket less conducive to spin.

In the first two Tests, which England won by 210 runs and 256 runs, Giles was instrumental, taking nine wickets in each match as England retained the Wisden Trophy.

His form is in stark contrast to England's main strike bowler Steve Harmison, who will want to kickstart his series having only taken three wickets. He scooped 23 wickets in England's 3-0 series win in the Caribbean earlier this year, their first series victory there since 1968.

James Anderson, who bowled well in the second Test, will expect to retain his place at the expense of paceman Simon Jones. Lara must do without fast bowler Tino Best who has flown home with a back complaint. He has been replaced by slow left-armer Dave Mohammed and Lara will hope he can have similar success to Giles if selected.

Corey Collymore was rushed out to England during the first Test at Lord's as a replacement and went straight into the second Test line-up. He failed to utilise English conditions as well as Lara had hoped but should still keep his place.

Bowler Fidel Edwards missed out at Edgbaston but could return at Old Trafford after taking 10 for 82 against Derbyshire last week and worrying the England batsmen with his distinctive slingy action in the Caribbean.

"It feels great, after coming to England and having a couple of bad performances, to get some wickets here, especially my first 10-wicket haul," the 22-year-old Edwards told the West Indies' official website after the Derbyshire match.

"I was struggling to adapt in the English conditions and the extra work in the nets paid off for me." Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored an unbeaten century in the first Test and was obstinate at the crease at Edgbaston where Ramnaresh Sarwan came into form after failing twice at Lord's.

A big innings from Lara may be due at Old Trafford but will not help keep his side in the series if the bowlers cannot restrict England's free-scoring batsmen. The hosts' captain Michael Vaughan said after the second Test that a pleasing element of the victories was that the batsmen who failed at Lord's, Marcus Trescothick, Graham Thorpe and Andrew Flintoff, came good at Edgbaston while the first Test run-makers took a back seat.

Mark Butcher again misses out with a thigh injury but Vaughan's side will start as firm favourites to extend their winning run.

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