ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

The West Indies yesterday confirmed Trinidad and Tobago's (T&T) Merissa Aguilleira as their captain for the International Cricket Council's Women's World Cup in Australia next month.

Aguilleira, a 23-year-old wicket-keeper who also open batting, will lead a 15-member squad that contains five survivors from the contingent to the last World Cup in South Africa four years ago.

T&T fast bowler Kirbyina Alexander, who is vice-captain of the March 7-22 tournament, Cordel Jack and Juliana Nero of St Vincent and the Grenadines Anisa Mohammed, of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Barbadian Pamela Lavine are the others returning for their second World Cup appearance.

The nucleus of the squad represented West Indies last November on a tour of Sri Lanka where they lost a five-match series 3-2. All-rounders Lavine and Jack were not on that Sri Lanka tour and have been brought back to bolster the unit with their experience.

Lavine, a 39-year-old cousin of West Indies batting legend Gordon Greenidge, bowls stiff medium pace and is solid with the bat while Jack, 26, bowls off-spin and has a good batting record.

The exciting teenagers Stafanie Taylor of Jamaica and Barbadians Deandra Dottin, Shakera Selman and Danielle Small were automatic picks and represent the future of West Indies women's cricket. Taylor, 17, is strong with both bat and ball and was the 2006 West Indies Players' Association Women's Cricketer-of-the-Year.

The management team is Sherwin Campbell (coach), Josina Luke (team manager), Jacqui King-Mowatt (physiotherapist), and Shannon Lashley (strength and conditioning coach).

SQUAD - Merissa Aguilleira, Kirbyina Alexander, Shanel Daley, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Geneille Greaves, Cordel Jack, Stacy-Ann King, Pamela Lavine, Anisa Mohammed, Juliana Nero, Shakera Selman, Danielle Small, Charlene Taitt, Stafanie Taylor.