Sarwan is returning home after hurting his shoulder while fielding during the second Test defeat at Headingley.

Vice-captain Daren Ganga is set to take over as skipper and Samuels will fill the gap in the middle order batting.

He was a surprise omission from the original squad but has a modest Test record, averaging 28 after 23 matches.

The 26-year-old Jamaican has failed to build on the promise shown when he made 104 against India in Calcutta five years ago.

He is, however, a regular in the West Indies one-day side and the selectors hope he now has the maturity to help plug the gap left by Sarwan's injury and the retirement of Brian Lara.

The squad for two Twenty20 internationals against England and three one-dayers which follow will be announced on Saturday.

Ganga, meanwhile, spoke to reporters on the eve of his team's match against an MCC XI at the Racecourse Ground, Durham.

There, he will face a side including Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya and Sir Viv Richards' son Mali, currently opening the bowling for UCCE.

Ganga, still officially in the role of acting captain, said: "We have put what happened in Headingley behind us. If we don't make the same mistakes again, we're heading in the right direction.

"(Captaincy) is a very big challenge. I did not really think about it while being vice-captain but these things happen in cricket and it's an opportunity for me to lead the guys.

"It's about my philosophies and the way I see things as a leader, but the coach and the management staff share the same vision and it's very important for us to work together as a team.

"If we can support each other and work together in harmony that's the only way we're going to go forward.