Debutant Lees opens after Root wins toss

England have made six changes to their Test XI as they seek to put their Australian nightmare behind them.

Joe Root, who survived the Ashes debacle, won the toss and elected to bat in Antigua, in the first of three Tests against West Indies.

That meant an instant introduction to Test cricket for debutant Alex Lees, the Durham opening bat.

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Dan Lawrence and Craig Overton were recalled to the side after being unused squad members in Australia and Ben Foakes returned as wicketkeeper. Jonny Bairstow was back after recovering from the fractured thumb suffered in Sydney while spinner Jack Leach, who had a difficult tour in Australia, was also recalled.

The hosts chose to pack their bowling attack, leaving out middle-order batter Kyle Mayers and pushing Jason Holder up to six. Spinner Veerasammy Permaul and seamer Alzarri Joseph both made the XI.

Both sides wore black armbands in honour of Shane Warne.

West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (capt), John Campbell, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Shamarh Brooks, Jason Holder, Joshua da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Veerasammy Permaul, Jayden Seales

England: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (capt), Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (wk), Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Mark Wood, Jack Leach