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England [Images] batsman Alastair Cook [Images] will serve as Andrew Strauss's [Images] vice-captain in the four-Test series against West Indies [Images] which starts next month.

"It is a very unofficial position but it is another chance for me to gain some valuable leadership experience and help Strauss in any way I can," Cook told the England and Wales Cricket Board's official website (www.ecb.co.uk) on Saturday.

Strauss was appointed captain earlier this month after the turmoil surrounding the resignation of Kevin Pietersen [Images] and the sacking of England coach Peter Moores.

The 24-year-old Cook is hoping his relative youth will bring a fresh perspective to the role of vice-captain.

"He (Strauss) will need support not just from me but from the other senior players as well," said Cook.

"We have a lot of leadership experience in the dressing room with three other guys who have captained England (Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff [Images] and former one-day skipper Paul Collingwood [Images]).

"They will be there to offer help and ideas and I can give them the viewpoint of someone that is slightly younger and might come at things from a different angle."

The first Test in Kingston [Images], Jamaica starts on February 4.