West Indies coach Ottis Gibson believes that the selectors’ faith in young cricketers will provide the proper platform for the regional team to reverse its steady decline of the last decade and a half.

The former fast bowler explained at a recent West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) press briefing in Jamaica that the 15-man Test squad which departed for Sri Lanka earlier this week was selected with plans “towards the future”.

He also noted that in the squad, only vice-captain Brendan Nash and former captains Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, are over 30 years old.

“There are a lot of positives to take out of the team, so I have to stay positive and the fact that we have young (Darren) Bravo, (Devon) Thomas, (Adrian) Barath, (Andre) Russell and Kemar Roach is a good thing. If you look at the squad we have three guys aged over 30… everybody else is under 30, so this team is a move towards the future.

“We’ve picked a team with two things in mind; obviously in doing well and also in moving forward. So we can have a whole lot of impressive young players and that’s good for the future… (because) right now we are in a low place in terms of world cricket (rankings). We (at the WICB) are starting to put some things in place that will give us the opportunity to turn the corner,” he said.

The panel which presided over the selection of the squad for Sri Lanka comprises former players Clyde Butts, Courtney Browne and Robert Haynes.

On the six week tour which starts on November 10, the West Indies are scheduled to play three Tests, five One-Day Internationals and a Twenty20 International against the hosts. The first Test is set to begin on November 15.

Under the care of Gibson and his assistant David Williams, the regional team held a rigorous training camp prior to their departure for the Asian country. Gibson expressed optimism despite the mountainous nature of the challenge.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but there’s no reason why we can’t go over there and manage ourselves well. I think the senior players have a huge job in terms of leading the team. I’m also concerned that in the past we have had problems bowling teams out twice,” he said.

When asked about the possible replacement for Suliemen Benn for the first Test after the lanky spinner was banned for an off-the-field altercation in June, Gibson insisted that other players would have to come forward.

“He is going to be missed, but we feel we have enough cover, and then after the first Test Benn would come back into the selection process. We have (Shane) Shillingford and we have Gayle with his (part-time) offspin. We have enough bowling and we just have to make the most of the situation in the absence of Benn,” Gibson said.

Earlier this year, Benn was given a one-Test ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for behaving “contrary to the spirit of the game” in a match between the West Indies and South Africa in Barbados.

During the lunch interval on the third day of the Test match, Benn reportedly entered the South Africa dressing room at the Kensington Oval and provoked players and members of the team management.

Squad — Darren Sammy (captain), Brendan Nash (vice-captain), Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh Jnr, Sulieman Benn, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelson Pascal, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas.

Thirteen of the 23-man West Indies squad are pictured at the Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados on Thursday prior to their departure for their tour Sri Lanka.

GIBSON… there are a lot of positives to take out of the team