West Indies Test squad in England 2009

Chris Gayle (captain)
One of the most intimidating batsmen of this or any other era, Gayle is a primal talent whose destructive hitting at the top of the order can derail opposition in all forms of the game. Not an immediately obvious choice as captain, he led West Indies to a 1-0 Test series triumph over England prior to this tour, hitting hundreds at Kingston and Port of Spain.

Lionel Baker
The first Test cricketer from Montserrat, the fast bowler has broken into the West Indies set-up in recent months, which scuppered a move to Leicestershire in 2009. He boasts limited experience of the first-class game and did not feature in the home Test series against England.

Sulieman Benn
A giant left-arm spinner and handy lower-order batsman who has forged his reputation largely through his performances in limited-overs cricket, Benn became a millionaire during the Stanford Super Series. His eight wickets against England in the first Test victory in Jamaica set up West Indies' series success.

David Bernard
The all-rounder played his only Test to date, ahead of the series in England, in 2003 against Australia in Port of Spain but made just 11 in two knocks and sent down 11 wicketless overs. The stylish batsman and useful medium-pacer has forced his way back into the international set-up with consistent performances for Jamaica.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul
The rock around which the West Indies side is built. Chanderpaul has been unerringly consistent during the last decade of his international career, breaking batting records and bowlers' hearts in equal measure, such is his monastic occupation of the crease. One of the modern greats, his unbeaten 147 against England in Port of Spain helped secure a series win.

Narsingh Deonarine
Deonarine made his Test debut in 2005 when a dispute between sponsors saw seven players left out at home to South Africa. However, the off-spinning all-rounder failed to make an impression in the four Tests he played that year. After several years in the Test wilderness, his recent form for Guyana has earned him a recall to the West Indies squad.

Fidel Edwards
The fast bowler enjoyed a remarkable introduction to Test cricket in 2003. Called up after impressing Brian Lara in the nets and with a solitary first-class appearance under his belt, he took five wickets on debut against Sri Lanka. Possessing genuine pace from a low, slingy action, he was West Indies' most consistently threatening bowler at home against England. His rearguard innings in Antigua and Trinidad secured vital draws.

Brendan Nash
An Australia-raised batsman who quit Queensland and relocated to Jamaica - his father was an Olympic swimmer for the island - just two years ago. Little has gone wrong since for Nash, who was called up to the West Indies side late last year. He made his maiden Test ton against England in Port of Spain. Also bowls left-arm medium-pace and sets high standards in the field.

Nelon Pascal
The young paceman burst on to the Caribbean domestic scene for the Windward Islands in 2007/08 and went on to play league cricket in Durham last summer. His experience in England have have persuaded he selectors to name the uncapped seamer in the tour party.

Denesh Ramdin
Rated the best wicketkeeper in the region, his glovework has outweighed his return with the bat for much of his time at the top level despite undoubted, if unorthodox, ability. A dearth of wicketkeeping talent in the Caribbean meant his place was rarely under threat, but a first Test hundred - against England at Bridgetown - silenced the critics.

Dale Richards
Richards was a late starter in cricket, but is now one of the most reliable opening batsmen in the West Indies, although he has a reputation for not converting half-centuries into hundreds. While 69 and 113 on his last domestic outing prompted his call-up for the first Test at home to England, he did not feature in that series.

Andrew Richardson
Another uncapped seamer with experience of English conditions, Richardson played in the Lancashire leagues in 2004 following an impressive season which saw him finish as Jamaica’s leading wicket-taker. However, back problems hampered his progress. He was back to his best in 2008/09 to help his island win the Caribbean first-class title.

Darren Sammy
The first St Lucian to play for West Indies, the powerful all-rounder made his one-day debut during the 2004 tour of England but had to wait for their return in 2007 for his Test bow, at Old Trafford. Sammy, who bowls medium-pace, made up for lost time with 7-66 in the second innings, including three wickets in an over, although England went on to win the match. He since fell by the wayside but, after featuring in the one-day series against England, has been promoted to the Test squad.

Ramnaresh Sarwan
A Test batting average around the 40 mark is nothing to be ashamed of, but the suspicion remains that Sarwan is capable of more. A hugely talented strokemaker with no shortage of fire in his belly - just ask Glenn McGrath - the Guyanese improved on a disappointing return the last time England toured the Caribbean with 626 runs at an average of 140, including a career-best 291 at the Kensington Oval.

Lendl Simmons
A promising opening batsman, Simmons comes from good cricketing stock: former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons is his uncle. A career-best 282 for St Kitts & Nevis in the tour match against England saw him named in the squad for the second Test in Antigua. However, he had to wait until the final match in Trinidad to make his Test debut.

Devon Smith
Smith started life as an opener for West Indies, hitting his maiden Test hundred against England at Kingston in 2004, but has since been shunted down the order after failing to reproduce his domestic form. Returned to the side as an opener against England this year but reached 50 only once, in Barbados.

Jerome Taylor
Taylor swings the ball at considerable pace and has been a consistent performer for his country over the past year. Underlined his batting talent with a Test hundred against New Zealand in Dunedin before Christmas, and is seen by some as a possible genuine all-rounder. He confirmed his potential with the ball in a devastating spell of 5-11 to blow England away in the second innings in Jamaica and set up West Indies' series victory.

Dale Richards left the tour party ahead of the second Test due to a shoulder injury.