By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

It seems rather odd that after the unexpected delay in naming their squad for the West Indies the England selectors have come up with precisely the same set of players that was chosen for Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Injury concerns in the pace department were thought to be the cause for Tuesday's postponement, and that coincides with the news that Richard Johnson needs a knee operation.

Harmison needs to stay fit

England's seam bowlers really are a sorry lot, and the list of their injuries remains as lengthy as ever despite being cosseted by the central contracts scheme which is proving increasingly worthless.

Even of those chosen for the Caribbean, James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff are not 100% fit, while Steve Harmison's back let him down in Bangladesh.

Of the four, only Matthew Hoggard is currently unscathed, but he missed most of last summer through injury.

Little wonder, then, that the selectors' faces were etched with worry when this squad sheet was typed up.

Even more alarming is that England's hopes appear to be resting on Simon Jones, the young tearaway fast bowler who suffered a dreadful knee injury in Australia 14 months ago.

There must have been a temptation for England to have included another middle-order batsman

We must not forget that he was a wild card selection then - Jones has been known to make Devon Malcolm appear like Brian Statham.

Since he has not bowled since that fateful day in Brisbane, David Graveney and co appear to be clutching at straws.

However, Jones has pace and a great deal of enthusiasm.

If he can get it together - and Harmison eases up a gear or two - England might suddenly find themselves with the solution to the void left by the departure of Darren Gough and Andy Caddick.

Caddick, while not fit for this tour, might have recovered in time for the summer series against New Zealand and the West Indies.

There must have been a temptation for England to have included another middle order batsman.