Chris Gayle may be the danger man for the West Indies, but Cricket Australia are delighted that the big-hitting opening bat has been confirmed for the  series Down Under.

Regular captain Gayle and fellow senior players, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Dwayne Bravo have been included in the squad for a series which includes three Tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20 matches.

The Windies heavyweights missed a home series against Bangladesh and the Champions Trophy over a contractual dispute with the West Indies Cricket Board. And without their big names the Caribbean cricketers looked anything but a good side. So with the first Test set to start on November 26 at the Gabba, it’s a relief both for the Windies and Cricket Australia, who could foresee a dead rubber and low attendances in prospect. And CA chief James Sutherland said: “What we can look forward to now is a fantastic atmosphere at matches. Those three Test matches against the West Indies - in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth - are always, no matter who’s playing, great traditional events and people come from all over the state and even all over the country to attend those matches.

“So no matter who’s playing there’s a great element of tradition about these games, so we expect good crowds.

“But the fact now that the West Indies are full strength means that if there was any doubt, I think that’s all removed now.”

Sutherland thinks the now-resolved dispute with the Windies Board may well work out in favour of the touring side. He explained: “We’ve seen in recent times where a West Indies side has struggled against Bangladesh and others and it’s a great relief to know they’re going to be full strength. I’m sure they’ll put up a really good performance this summer.

“I think they’ll have a renewed spirit after coming back and having had a bit of time out of the game, it’s a summer of cricket that we’re really looking forward to.”

The Aussies are still in India, battling it out over a seven-match one-day series. And although they squared the series at 2-2 with a battling 24-run win in Mohali, the injury-ravaged Aussies were dealt another blow in victory.

Paceman Peter Siddle is the latest man to quit the tour, after suffering stiffness in his side while bowling only five overs in the day-nighter.

The decision to send Siddle home is just a precaution, ahead of a busy schedule. But the Aussies are struggling for firepower with Brett Lee and James Hopes already sent home and Nathan Bracken on the sidelines.