Andrew Strauss has many pressing issues to confront against the West Indies, including his own form and England's need to restate their world-beating Test match credentials.

One subject causing him little cause for concern at the start of the three-Test Investec series, though, is the readiness of Jonny Bairstow - who appears certain to be making his debut at number six.

The 22-year-old Yorkshireman is set to follow his late father David into Test cricket, having produced an astonishing man-of-the-match performance on his one-day international debut last September and begun this summer well for his native county. "He's a really exciting talent," said the England captain.

Strauss accepts it is impossible to tell how any individual will react to the unique pressures of his first Test, but appears convinced Bairstow is made of the right stuff.

He added: "He's shown glimpses of it in the shorter forms of the game; his first-class record is excellent, and he can play the game at a number of different paces as well. For a guy batting at number six, that is that is a great attribute to have."

"He is young and enthusiastic," added Strauss, of a batsman whose chance has come earlier than expected at the highest level thanks to Ravi Bopara's injury just before the squad was announced.

"It's been great having him around, because it just reminds us all how special it is to be representing your country when a guy is in line to possibly make his debut and you can see the excitement on his face.

"It has been lovely to have him involved. It has come a little bit from left-field for him, but I'm sure if he gets the chance he will make a really good fist of it. No player knows until they have played Test cricket - how you will deal with the pressure of it - but he has given every indication so far that it will not be a problem for him."

Strauss faced a more difficult task in deciding who out of Steve Finn, Graham Onions or Tim Bresnan would complete England's feared pace attack alongside James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Whoever might be picked, though, the captain is confident. "It is a very tough call to make, because all five seamers that we have here have got very strong reasons to be playing in this Test match," he said. AP