Ramnaresh Sarwan will have Dwayne Bravo as his deputy in the opening Test © AFP Enlarge

Ramnaresh Sarwan will step in for the injured Chris Gayle and lead West Indies in the first Test against Australia at Sabina Park on Thursday.

Gayle has succumbed to the groin injury that kept him out of the Indian Premier League and the home team's leadership will revolve around Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo, the new deputy. Sarwan guided the team in two Tests in England last year and will face a tough assignment against the world champions.

The opener Sewnarine Chattergoon, who made his debut against Sri Lanka in April, has been ruled out with a shoulder problem, leaving a spot for Brenton Parchment. Parchment is currently captaining a Jamaica XI in the tour game against the Australians and scored 25 on the opening day.

Ryan Hinds and Runako Morton were included in the outfit, which is also without Marlon Samuels after he was found guilty of dealing with a bookmaker. The squad was named following a pre-series camp in Antigua.

West Indies squad Brenton Parchment, Runako Morton, Ryan Hinds, Ramnaresh Sarwan (capt), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Devon Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin (wk), Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell, Darren Sammy, Sulieman Benn, Amit Jaggernauth, Fidel Edwards.