Former England bowling Coach Ottis Gibson will take over as head coach of the West Indies in time for the home series against Zimbabwe.

Chief Executive of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Ernest Hilaire told media, "Ottis will begin his appointment from the start of the home series against Zimbabwe later this month".

He added that provisional coach David Williams would remain in charge for the ODI tour of Australia before being appointed as Gibson's assistant for the home series that starts with a T20 match in Trinidad on February 28.

Former all-rounder Gibson represented West Indies in 2 Tests and 15 ODIs and enjoyed a long first-class career in the Caribbean, South Africa and England. He was named England's bowling coach in 2007, gaining experience Hilaire said had marked him out as the best candidate for the Caribbean job. He is a new era coach and is exposed to all of the technologies and new approaches to coaching.