West Indies team selectors on Tuesday resisted the temptation to grant Chris Gayle a sentimental appearance on home ground when the swashbuckling opener was omitted from the squad to face India in the second and final match of the series.
Gayle played the last of his 103 Tests in September 2014 but had hinted during the World Cup this year that he was open to playing one more Test before retiring from international cricket.
The 39-year-old southpaw has amassed 7,214 runs in Test cricket with the highest score of 333 but his career in recent years has been confined to white-ball cricket and the T20 leagues.
Despite the second Test against India being scheduled to be played at his home ground of Sabina Park in Jamaica from August 30 – September 3, it looks like Gayle’s final international appearance in the Caribbean was the third ODI vs India in Port of Spain.
Meanwhile, Keemo Paul has returned to the 13-man Windies squad for the Jamaica Test. He was forced to sit out the first Test – which India won by 318 runs – due to an ankle injury but is now fit to feature at Sabina Park on Friday.
The 21-year-old Paul has replaced Miguel Cummins, while Shane Dowrich has been ruled out of the second Test with an ankle injury. Jahmar Hamilton has been called up as Dowrich’s replacement.
West Indies squad for the second Test:
Jason Holder (captain), Kraigg Braithwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rakheem Cornwall, Jahmar Hamilton, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Keemo Paul, Kemar Roach.
