Chris Gayle’s return to the Windies’ One-Day International squad for the first time since the 2015 Cricket World Cup has been the big talking point ahead of the five-match series against England.

Gayle is expected to make his first appearance against Ireland on Wednesday.

Along with Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Jerome Taylor also feature in the 15-man squad, which arrived in Northern Ireland on Monday.

Samuels last turned out for the Windies in October 2016, but was dropped for the tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe the following month. Gayle played in the one-off T20 International against India in July, but his last ODI was during the 2015 World Cup. Taylor’s last ODI was in July 2016.

Six players from the Windies Test squad are staying back for the limited-overs leg – which also includes a one-off T20I against England on Saturday with Roston Chase the only player dropped from the squad that lost 3-1 to India in the home ODIs in July.

Windies will need to beat Ireland and then win four of the five ODIs against England otherwise it will find itself in the qualifying tournament next March, along with Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Only two qualifiers will join the top eight in the rankings at the end of this month at the 2019 event in England.

With Ireland likely to face Windies in the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifiers, the match on Wednesday could be a dress rehearsal for what’s to come.

Windies: Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Miguel Cummins, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder (capt), Kyle Hope, Shai Hope (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Rovman Powell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Kesrick Williams.