Since the early 1970s, West Indies fast bowlers have always hunted in packs.

In recent years, however, the kills have been less frequent, with an over-reliance on the older wolves to satisfy the hunger of the rest.

Now the cubs must fend for themselves, with Courtney Walsh retiring from Test cricket - notwithstanding his indication of a willingness to help out in an emergency - just a few months after his old ally Curtly Ambrose called it a day.

Do any of them have what it takes, however, to take over of the acknowledged leader of the West Indies attack?

Dillon: Has raised his game in recent weeks

Mervyn Dillon has emerged as the leading candidate after taking 20 wickets in the home series against South Africa.

He was overlooked for last year's Test tour to England and injury cut short his winter trip to Australia, but he has put that behind him and shown signs of a new maturity.

The 26-year-old has a high action and can adapt his bowling to the conditions. An overall record of 57 wickets in 16 Tests at an average of 30.52 does not do him justice.

Cameron Cuffy did well to earn a recall against South Africa, more than four years after being discarded by the selectors.

He put in plenty of effort, but four wickets in two matches was not good enough for a Test match strike bowler.

Cuffy stands 6ft 7ins tall but does not carry the same menace as fellow giants Ambrose and Joel Garner before him and at 31, does not have long-term prospects.

McLean needs greater consistency

Nixon McLean has plenty of potential but failed to learn from the example set by Walsh and Ambrose.

Generates plenty of pace when his rhythm is right, but the 27-year-old lacks consistency and accuracy, as reflected by a record of 44 wickets in 19 Tests at a cost of 42.56 each.

McLean is capable of useful lower order runs, but the selectors may run out of patience unless he raises his game with the ball.

Reon King became the first Guyanese pace bowler to win Test selection since Colin Croft 20 years ago, when he made his debut in South Africa in January 1999.

The 25-year-old showed a great deal of promise but struggled in England last summer and then suffered a foot injury which kept him out of action for several months.

He possesses a natural athleticism and is likely to be given the chance to improve a record of 36 wickets in 12 Tests.

Stuart has fallen out of favour

Colin Stuart was one of three uncapped fast bowlers picked for the tour to Australia and gave a good account of himself, without producing any world-beating performances.

His reward was to be completely ignored for the series against South Africa and the 27-year-old now faces the challenge of re-establishing himself in the squad.

Jamaican Franklyn Rose is a Caribbean cricket engima. Although capable of match-winning performances, he has been accused of an attitude problem.

Took six wickets in his debut Test against India and figures of seven for 84 in the Durban Test on the team's disastrous 1998-99 tour to South Africa showed what Rose is capable of when in the right frame of mind.

But he has been out of favour since last summer's trip to England, where he managed four wicket at 67.50 each.

Marlon Black from Trinidad made a highly promising Test debut in Brisbane last November, when he shared the new ball with Walsh and took four for 83.

The 25-year-old could not sustain that form against a dominant Australian side and the tour ended on a distressing note when he was beaten up in a nightclub.

Like Stuart, he must now remind the selectors of his ability, but may have the potential to come again.

Jeremy shares a joke with Courtney Walsh

Kerry Jeremy suffered a fractured jaw when he was hit by a bouncer in Australia, dashing any hopes he had of making the Test side.

Performed well in the Busta Cup for the Leeward Islands with 26 wickets at an average of 20.69, which prompted the selectors to recall him for the one-dayers against South Africa.

Not the tallest of fast bowlers, but the 21-year-old is one for the future.

Leewards teammate Ricky Christopher matched Jeremy's Busta Cup haul of wickets and is another player the selectors have their eye on.

The summer tour to Zimbabwe will give West Indies the chance to try out their options, but with Walsh gone, the pickings may be lean for some time to come.