Tough task ahead for Strauss

Andrew Strauss will try to mould his new-look England one-day side into winners

Andrew Strauss will start his reign as England's new one-day captain later today aiming to blend his players' different talents into a team capable of challenging the world's best.

The Middlesex left-hander began his tenure with a disappointing Test series defeat against West Indies despite starting the campaign as favourites.

He faces an even bigger task to turn around England's one-day fortunes, particularly as someone who has not played a one-day international since the World Cup in the Caribbean two years ago and who has not featured in a Twenty20 international side since 2006.

But that will be the job facing him when England start the limited-overs segment of their Caribbean tour with a 50-over warm-up match against the West Indies Players Association at Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre.

That precedes Sunday's Twenty20 international against West Indies before a five-match one-day series, when England will attempt to return to winning ways following their 5-0 defeat in India before Christmas.

It will be a stern test for Strauss and his new-look squad, which includes the recalled Hampshire all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas, while Worcestershire off-spinner Gareth Batty has been added to the squad after Graeme Swann returned home for treatment on his troublesome elbow.

Mascarenhas has not featured since the home series defeat to New Zealand last summer and will be one of the new personnel trying to cement his place in the new regime's plans.

Dimitri Mascarenhas has been recalled to the England set-up after their 5-0 defeat to India

"Since I've been involved there have been a couple of ins and outs and now there are quite a few different faces around the dressing room, and maybe that will help, only time will tell," said 31-year-old Mascarenhas, who has just returned from a successful spell playing one-day cricket for Otago in New Zealand.

"I've never played with Straussy before so it's hard to know what he's going to be like - I've only seen what he's done on TV. Everyone is different as captain and I'm sure there will be some differences coming in."

Mascarenhas is expected to play against a WIPA side including three internationals - captain Daren Ganga, prolific batsman Lendl Simmons and spinner Dave Mohammed - as Andrew Flintoff is still not regarded as fit following his hip problem while Paul Collingwood is unlikely to feature after contracting an infection.

Asked why he thought he had been recalled now, Mascarenhas said: "I'm not sure. It helped my cause that we didn't do so well in India.

"Losing 5-0 wasn't the best result and they obviously thought they needed to make a few changes in certain departments and I've benefited from that.

"I said from the start that I was looking forward to having a go and hopefully doing as best I can and just see what happens. I'm pretty happy so far with how it's gone and hopefully now I've got another chance."