Windies bank on Banks

West Indian selectors are set to overlook batsman Chris Gayle and name a little-known off-spinner from the tiny island of Anguilla for the second Test against Australia in Trinidad on Saturday.

Omari Banks, who played against the Australians in a tour match in Georgetown last week, will become the first Test player from the northern-most Leeward Island if he makes the cut from an expected 15-man Windies squad.

Anguilla measures just 25km in length and five kilometres at its widest point and has a population of about 10,000.

Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan will be selected after recovering from a finger injury but Gayle may not be forgiven for missing Jamaica's domestic final against Barbados two weeks ago.

Gayle opted to play in a lucrative double wicket competition in St Lucia, claiming he had received permission from Jamaican cricket officials when the final was scheduled for the previous week.

But the final was moved back and Gayle stuck with the double wicket competition, ruining his chances of playing in the Windies' nine-wicket loss in the first Test in Georgetown.

Windies officials have since claimed he is eligible for Test selection but the left-hander is expected to miss out on the second Test, while Sarwan will almost certainly replace Marlon Samuels.

Wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs is expected to miss the Test because of a groin injury, enabling Carlton Baugh to make his debut.

The 20-year-old Banks impressed the Australians during the tour match, dismissing Steve Waugh and Justin Langer for single figures, and the Windies need his spin to add some variety to an attack which was too plain in the first Test loss in Georgetown.

The four pace bowlers were ineffective against the Australians and Banks has a strong chance of making his Test debut after playing 20 first-class matches.

Likely West Indies squad: Brian Lara (capt), Wavell Hinds, Devon Smith, Daren Ganga, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Carlton Baugh, Omari Banks, Vasbert Drakes, Merv Dillon, Jermaine Lawson, Pedro Collins, Marlon Samuels, David Bernard Jr, Ridley Jacobs (three to be omitted, 12th man to be named).