Gayle out of South Africa Tests
Devon Smith is to replace the West Indies injured star batsman Chris Gayle in the squad for the tour of South Africa the selectors announced on Monday.
Smith, 33, has represented the West Indies in 33 Tests since making his debut in 2003 against Australia in Guyana.
The pugnacious left handed opener – who scored a century in his latest first class match – has scored one Test century and five half centuries and averages a shade under 37 in First Class cricket.
Gayle is the second experienced player the squad has seen drop out as Dwayne Bravo pulled out last month citing personal reasons.
The series against South Africa will be the first for the West Indies since they quit India four matches into a five-game, one-day series in October after a pay dispute between players and the board, with a Twenty20 international and three Tests to play.
The West Indies Cricket Board has since set up a task force to explore the controversy with a report due on December 18.
West Indies will play three Tests, three Twenty20 internationals and five one-dayers in South Africa.
Latest
-
NewsJofra Archer to step up injury return in Sussex’s Championship game with Kent
Archer’s last first-class appearance for the county came in the 2018 season.
-
NewsStuart Broad: England not finished article but on verge of ‘something special’
Joe Root’s side finished fourth in the WTC’s inaugural league table.
-
NewsTom Harrison warns ‘we’re not out of the woods yet’ as ECB reports £16.1m losses
Prior to the onset of the global health crisis the ECB had expected the past year to be characterised by rising revenues.
-
NewsECB reports £16.1m loss with cash reserves down to £2.2m due to impact of Covid
Cricket as a whole in England and Wales has accrued revenue losses of more than £100m.
-
NewsMCC stresses requirement for law change to permit use of bamboo cricket bats
A Cambridge University study suggested a prototype bamboo bat was stronger, more sustainable and cheaper to produce than the willow blade.
-
NewsTymal Mills says initiatives are more important to cricket than taking a knee
The Sussex left-arm paceman feels inclusive schemes will prove more significant than gestures in broadening cricket’s appeal in years to come.
-
NewsAshley Giles will not allow England commitments to play second fiddle to IPL
Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler could find themselves involved in a calendar clash.
-
NewsAshley Giles hints at possible new faces for England in New Zealand series
Giles suggested players who recently returned from the postponed Indian Premier League into quarantine may be eased back into action gently.
-
NewsCraig Overton and Lyndon James star in big wins for Somerset and Nottinghamshire
The paceman picked up five second innings wickets to set up victory.
-
NewsGloucestershire escape the bad weather as David Payne rolls over Middlesex
The seamer claimed six for 56 and 10 wickets in the match as the visitors secured a comfortable win.