Lara must now try and end a run of poor results

His first job will be to lead the side in a one-day series against Zimbabwe, which starts on Saturday - just four days before his 37th birthday.

But the West Indies Cricket Board is primarily hoping he can lift the team before next year's World Cup, which will be staged in the Caribbean.

Lara replaces Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who stepped down after an unsuccessful 13-month spell as skipper.

Been there, bought the T-shirt - twice. Lara is not a good choice From Mike S Have your say on TMS

During that period they lost 10 out of 14 Tests, winning only one, and were beaten in 14 out of 16 one-day internationals.

"Chanderpaul did a wonderful job under the circumstances," said Lara, who was encouraged to take the job on again by a number of players past and present, including his predecessor.

"The fact that a lot of former players called me was humbling.

"This was followed up by phone calls from present team-mates who thought I should assume the mantle of leadership at this juncture."

LARA'S RECORD AS SKIPPER 1996-97 to 1999-2000 18 Tests, w 6, l 10, d 2 44 ODIs, w 20, l 23, nr 1 2002-03 to 2005 22 Tests, w 4, l 13, d 5 41 ODIs, w 17, l 19, nr 5 Lara's career in photos

Lara's record as captain is only moderate, but he was in charge when West Indies won the ICC Champions Trophy in England two years ago.

And he has a stature among Caribbean cricket fans which none of the other candidates for the job - Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Daren Ganga, Sylvester Joseph and Denesh Ramdin - could match.

He is the leading scorer in Test history, with 11,294 runs from 124 matches, including 31 centuries.

He also holds world records for the highest Test and first-class scores, making 400 not out against England at St John's in 2004 and 501 for Warwickshire against Durham a decade earlier.

West Indies have not won the World Cup since 1979

"It is logical to go back to Lara," WICB chairman Ken Gordon told reporters.

"Of the players available, they each had varying strengths but there were also varying weaknesses.

"The best [option] is to go with Lara, whose experience and knowledge is unquestioned," Gordon added.

Paceman Fidel Edwards welcomed the appointment, saying: "I have confidence we will do well under Brian's leadership. The players have faith in him and he always puts faith in them."

All-rounder Ian Bradshaw said: "I'm excited about the possibilities. He's a good leader and has the respect of all his peers."

Lara's re-appointment follows the settlement of the latest in a series of contract disputes which have dogged West Indies cricket, one of which cost him the captaincy in March 2005.

Following negotiations between the WICB and players' association, Wipa, it is now expected that up to a dozen members of the West Indies team will be placed on retainers.

Gordon said: "A lot of compromises have been made on both sides and a framework has been agreed, paving the way to move forward."

The 13-man squad to play Zimbabwe, meanwhile, contains no major surprises, although there is no place for captaincy candidates Ganga, Hinds and Joseph.

Pace bowler Corey Collymore and all-rounder Marlon Samuels return after recovering from knee injuries.

West Indies squad: B Lara (capt), C Gayle, R Morton, R Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, Dwayne Smith, M Samuels, D Bravo, D Ramdin, C Collymore, F Edwards, J Taylor, I Bradshaw.