Gayle dropped from West Indies squad for first Test

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, April 5 AAP - West Indian selectors must appoint a new vice-captain after local hero Ramnaresh Sarwan was today ruled out of Thursday's opening Test against Australia in Georgetown.

Sarwan and captain Brian Lara were forming a new leadership team for the series but Sarwan's cracked finger has not healed in time.

He was a notable omission from a 14-man squad named today, along with batsman Chris Gayle.

Gayle's exclusion raises questions after his controversial decision not to play in the final of the West Indies' domestic first-class competition in Barbados.

Instead, Gayle opted to play in a lucrative double wicket tournament with Carl Hooper in St Lucia which also features South Australian pairing Greg Blewett and John Davison.

Chairman of selectors Viv Richards and his panel were not available for comment but Gayle's omission would not appear form-related because the left-hander has scored the second-highest amount of Test runs for the Windies in the last 12 months.

The Jamaican Cricket Association has stated Gayle was not given permission to miss the final, which may explain why he is out of the Test.

Batsman Daren Ganga, who was supposed to be out for a week with a leg injury, is part of the squad along with promising batsman Devon Smith, deposed captain Hooper and rising quick Jermaine Lawson.

Selectors included two wicketkeepers, with incumbent Ridley Jacobs joined by Carlton Baugh Jr, who is playing for the Guyana President's XI in a three-day tour match against Australia.

West Indies squad: Brian Lara (capt) Carlton Baugh Jnr, David Bernard Jnr, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Pedro Collins, Vasbert Drakes, Mervyn Dillon, Daren Ganga, Wavell Hinds, Carl Hooper, Ridley Jacobs, Jermaine Lawson, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith.