BRISBANE, Australia (CMC):

A back injury has sidelined Ramnaresh Sarwan for the opening Test between West Indies and Australia that started yesterday.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle confirmed the dreaded news, after Australia won the toss and chose to bat on the opening day at the Gabba.

Sarwan fell awkwardly while executing a fielding drill on the eve of the Test, and remained on the turf at the Allan Border Field for several minutes before he was helped away by teammates and medical staff.

Sarwan was one of West Indies' most prolific players in their drawn opening tour match against Queensland last weekend, when he scored 73 and 66.

Even then, he was mildly afflicted by a rash that required him to lather his skin in ointment, and spent an entire day off the field before he returned to play his match-saving knock in the second innings.

Sarwan's absence gives his compatriot Travis Dowlin the chance to continue his Test career.

The 32-year-old Dowlin made his Test debut against Bangladesh during the tumultuous home series earlier this year.

West Indies have also named two Test newcomers in their line-up, Adrian Barath and Ravi Rampaul, while Brendan Nash is playing his first Test on what he used to consider home soil.

Australia have no debutants, but both Marcus North and Ben Hilfenhaus are playing their first Tests on home soil.

Both teams have much to prove.

For West Indies, they will be haunted by 15 years of failure against the Baggy Greens, and will seek to overcome their recent history of underachievement.