Chris Gayle in action against New Zealand during a recent one-day match at Sabina Park. - Ian Allen

Boosted by the return of Chris Gayle and the emergence of mystery off-spinner Sunil Narine the West Indies will tomorrow begin their quest to win a Test series on home soil for the first time since 2009 when they face New Zealand in the first of two matches at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.

Gayle, who made a return to the team last month and has since played integral roles in the team's Twenty20 and one day International (ODI) series win over the Kiwis earlier this month, is expected to shoulder the team's batting along with world number two ranked Test batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who has recovered from a side injury sustained while on tour of England last month.

Narine, the player of the series during the five-match ODIs, is expected to lead the team's quest for 20 wickets with returning fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul and captain Darren Sammy, providing valuable support.

The West Indies led by man of the series Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Gayle and Brendan Nash defeated England 1-0 in a five-match series in their last home series win.

Sarwan scored 626 runs at an average of 104.33, including three centuries and a half century to lead all batsmen, Chanderpaul 299 runs at 59.80, including a century and two half centuries, Gayle 292 runs at 48.66, including two centuries, and Nash 239 runs at 39.83, including a century and a half century.

"It is very exciting to have Chris back, and I know he is looking forward to being back out in the white clothes," said Sammy, during the series' official launch yesterday at the match venue.

"Not just Chris, but Shiv, who is always ready for battle, and everyone in the team. We are eager to get started on Wednesday.

"With Chris coming back, we have the experience at the top of the order; we can see off the new ball, and put up some good totals on the board. You would back our bowlers to come and get 20 wickets for us," he declared.

Apart from Gayle and Chanderpaul the West Indies will also look to the in-form Marlon Samuels and Narsingh Deonarine to lead their batting exploits.

Samuels emerged as the Man of the Series in the Test series during the team's tour of England after amassing 386 runs at 96.50, including a century and three half-centuries, while Deonarine, scored 106 for the West Indies Cricket Board President XI against the Black Caps last weekend in the visitors lone three-day warm-up match.

New Zealand,according to captain Ross Taylor, will be hoping to turn things around after playing second fiddle during their tour thus far.

"We got what we wanted out of the warm-up game," said Taylor.

"We got two bats (innings) and the bowlers had a good run out. We came away with a draw. We hadn't played with the red ball for a while so it was good to spend some time in the middle.

In identifying a trump card in which his team will be seeking to build a series victory around, Taylor pointed to experienced left-arm spinner, Daniel Vettori, who claimed six wickets in the warm-up match.

"You can't pay for experience. Vettori showed what a class player he is during the three-day match, and will be handful on that wicket against what is a good West Indies team. We will need to bowl well against their left-handers," he said.

The second Test will be played in Jamaica during the Independence weekend August 2 and 6 at Sabina Park.

West Indies (from): Darren Sammy (captain), Denesh Ramdin (vice-captain), Adrian Barath, Tino Best, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels.

New Zealand (from): Ross Taylor (captain), Rob Nicol, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, Tom Latham, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Nathan McCullum, Doug Bracewell, Kyle Mills, Trent Boult,Daniel Vetorri.