Former international batsman Richie Richardson has been named the new West Indies [ Images ] team manager, the West Indies Cricket Board said on Saturday.

Richardson, who played 86 Test matches and 224 One-Day Internationals, scoring a total of 21 centuries, replaces Joel Garner, who had held the position on an interim basis.

The ex-West Indies captain, has been appointed for a two-year term and will be in charge for the side's tour to Sri Lanka [ Images ] for three one-day games to be followed by the World Cup in India [ Images ], Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The 49-year-old Antiguan will work alongside coach Otis Gibson and skipper Darren Sammy as the West Indies look to turn around several years of decline.

"As a former player and captain, I gave my all for West Indies cricket on the field. We are at the cusp of a new era and it is now time for me to contribute off the field and aid in the building and resurgence of West Indies cricket," Richardson said in a statement.