ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Four players from the controversial makeshift outfit have been retained, but selectors yesterday named a full-strength 15-man squad for the tour of Australia, ending a dark period in West Indies cricket where the best players had been sidelined by a bitter contracts dispute.

For the first time in three months, West Indies will put their strongest team on the field following the selection of second-string squads for the Bangladesh home tour and the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Batsman Travis Dowlin, all-rounder Darren Sammy and the fast-bowling pair of Kemar Roach and Gavin Tonge will join up with the returning first-choice players for the tour that comprises three Tests and starts later this month.

An upbeat chairman of selectors, Clyde Butts, said he was confident the squad selected would do well Down Under in Tests at Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.

"I believe the players selected will make positives steps forward and overall, I believe the team will have positive results in Australia," the former Guyana and West Indies off-spinner said.

Experienced team

"I think we have a good combination and an experienced team, which I expect to do very well. We expect the players to give a good account of themselves and perform well for West Indies."

Teenage Trinidadian opener Adrian Barath, who had his debut against Bangladesh in July thwarted by the players strike, has been called up again, along with Guyanese batsman Narsingh Deonarine, who had also been named in the squad to face the Tigers.

Chris Gayle, as reported on Sunday, has been confirmed to lead the squad, which will see the marquee players outfitted in Windies colours for the first time since India's one-day tour of the Caribbean, which finished in July.

The prolific Shiv Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and the dependable Brendan Nash have all returned to shore up the Windies batting, while strike bowler Jerome Taylor will lead a pace attack including Ravi Rampaul, Roach and Tonge.

All-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Darren Sammy will provide the medium-pace options, with lanky left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn the only spinner named in the squad.

"We have selected a balanced team ... We have a quality bowling attack and a very good batting line-up with players who have performed on the international stage," said Butts.

"We believe the players all have the ability to deliver at the highest level."

Injury

Fast bowler Fidel Edwards has missed out because of injury.

The first Test bowls off November 26 at the Gabba in Brisbane, with the second Test scheduled for December 4-8 at the Adelaide Oval, and the third from December 16-20 at the WACA in Perth.

David Williams has been retained as coach while former West Indies fast bowler Joel Garner will serve as manager.

SQUAD: Chris Gayle (captain), Adrian Barath, Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Brendan Nash, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor, Gavin Tonge.