Chris Gayle was appointed captain of the West Indies team for the home series against Sri Lanka after impressing on the tour of South Africa.

He was chosen ahead of the luckless Ramnaresh Sarwan, who replaced Brian Lara as captain last April but a series of injuries have limited his availability and Gayle has since stepped up.

Gayle led West Indies to their first Test win in South Africa in December, which was the team’s first Test victory overseas against a major Test team in seven years.

“Gayle was nominated by the selection committee and the nomination was approved by the West Indies Cricket Board today,” a report on the West Indies Cricket Board’s website said.

World champions Australia tour the Caribbean after Sri Lanka so there is much for Gayle and his men to play for against the Sri Lankans.

Left-handed opener and off-spinner Gayle has played in 70 Tests in which he scored 4,658 runs with 59 wickets.