Laxman averages 61 in 12 previous Tests against West Indies

He was dropped during the home series against England earlier this year, but his experience will compensate for the absence of injured Sachin Tendulkar.

The selectors have named three uncapped players in the 16-man squad.

Batsman Suresh Raina and spinner Ramesh Powar are already in the Caribbean with the one-day team, and they will be joined by seamer Vikram Singh.

He has been preferred to Ajit Agarkar because of his good form in domestic cricket and will provide support for Irfan Pathan, Sri Sreesanth and Munaf Patel. "Singh is a fine prospect for the future and we want to utilise this opportunity to provide him exposure," said chief selector Kiran More.

"Agarkar has been a fine one-day player but his performances in Tests have not been that impressive."

Explaining Powar's inclusion as the spin bowling back-up to Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, More described him as "the find of the season".

And he added: "Most of the pitches in the West Indies have been re-laid in recent years and they've been assisting spin."

Tendulkar (left) needs more time to regain full fitness

Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer are the only specialist opening batsmen in the squad, but both skipper Rahul Dravid and keeper Mahendra Dhoni could be considered as alternatives if necessary.

And despite Laxman's return, the selectors have again decided they do not need former captain Sourav Ganguly, who is now likely to take up a contract with English county side Northamptonshire.

Laxman averages 61 against West Indies, but has only passed fifty once in his last four Tests and will have to prove himself again.

Tendulkar, meanwhile, was ruled out of the tour on Tuesday because he has still not fully recovered from shoulder surgery.

The first of four Tests begins in Antigua on 2 June and India will be seeking their first series win in the Caribbean since 1971.

India Test squad: R Dravid (captain), V Sehwag, W Jaffer, VVS Laxman, Y Singh, M Kaif, S Raina, MS Dhoni, D Karthik, I Pathan, S Sreesanth, M Patel, VR Singh, A Kumble, H Singh, R Powar.