Jason Holder to take charge of West Indies Test team

Jason Holder has been named as the new Test captain of West Indies ahead of their tour to Sri Lanka in October.

Holder has captained the one-day side since the latter part of last year and now takes charge of the Test XI, replacing wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin, who drops back into the ranks for the Sri Lanka tour.

Holder, a bowling all-rounder, has impressed as the limited overs skipper and then scored a maiden Test century to help salvage a draw against England earlier this year.

The 23-year-old has only played eight Tests but Clive Lloyd, head selector of the West Indies Cricket Board, is hopeful he can galvanise a side who are ranked eighth out of the 10 teams.

"He is a young man that all of the selectors, people in the Caribbean and worldwide, believe has several of the qualities that can take our team forward," said Lloyd.

"We felt the time was right for a change and we feel he will do as well as he did when he was elevated to the position of one-day international captain ahead of the World Cup.

"We expect to get new thinking and new dynamism from him. Jason commands respect.

"He is a fine young man, very intelligent, and he seems to get the best from the players because he is a straightforward guy.

"I think the players will warm to him. He has a young bunch of players and we feel he can guide them in the manner that is required for internationals."

Opening batsman Kraigg Brathwaite will be vice-captain for the two Tests in Galle and Colombo, and the squad contains two uncapped players in paceman Carlos Brathwaite and slow left-armer Jomel Warrican.

There is no place for Chris Gayle, however, as the hard-hitting opener recovers from surgery on a long-standing back injury.