The 38-year-old, who averages 50 from 144 Tests, was included following a purple patch of form that saw culminated in his rise to the number one batsman in the ICC rankings back in April.

The squad is captained by Australian Michael Clarke and also comprises the South African pair of Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara for the third straight year.

“The team once again has a strong batting line-up, while the bowlers are a tough combination of pace and spin who could dismiss any line-up on any surface,” said legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, who chaired the selection committee.

“The process of selection was a difficult one, with a lengthy debate between the panel on all the top performances during the voting period and various combinations were considered.

“In the panel’s expert opinion, it has selected the best team based on performances over the past 12 months.”

The panel also included former Windies captain and stylish batsman Carl Hooper.

During the period under preview – August 4, 2011 to August 6, 2012 – Chanderpaul scored 975 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 65 and struck two centuries.

During Australia’s tour of the Caribbean earlier this year, he went past 10 000 runs in Tests, only the second Windies player and the 10th in history to reach that mark.
He is only behind the prodigious Brian Lara who tops the list of Windies run-getters with 11 953.

Chanderpaul has 25 Test centuries, one behind the incomparable Sir Garry Sobers and nine adrift of Lara.

SQUAD – Michael Clarke (Aus, captain), Alastair Cook (Eng), Hashim Amla (SA), Kumar Sangakkara (SL), Jacques Kallis (SA), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (WI), Matt Prior (Eng – wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad (Eng), Saeed Ajmal (Pak), Vernon Philander (SA), Dale Steyn (SA), 12th Man – AB de Villiers (SA).