Gibson confident of Gayle fitness for Test

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West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has confirmed that batsman Chris Gayle has joined up with the Test squad, and should be good to go for the first match against New Zealand in Jamaica on 8 June.

West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has confirmed that batsman Chris Gayle has joined up with the Test squad, and should be good to go for the first match against New Zealand in Jamaica on 8 June.

Gayle had been in Germany undergoing treatment on a back injury, after struggling with various niggles since November, and battling through the Indian Premier League for the past two months with the latest injury.

Gibson confirmed: "He's here. He was told he had to be at the camp on June 1. He went to Germany to see a specialist so over there, he had some injections for his back.

"The specialist said he would need to take a couple of days rest and after which he should be able to take full part in cricket. The first Test match starts on June 8, so he has enough time to get enough cricket.

"He had a couple of hits in the nets today and he did some catching on the field, so he has enough time, once we get to Jamaica, to get himself settled down."

With Sunil Narine not in the squad, the Windies have Shane Shillingford back from suspension after fixing his action, as well as Sulieman Benn, and they can make up the spin pairing. But Gibson didn't want to commit to that just yet.

He said: "We have to get there first. What we do is we tend to get there first and see the conditions and then think of the make-up of the team.

"We have three quality fast bowlers who have done well this week and two world-class spinners, with Benn coming back into the team after a long absence and Shane, who's had his issues with his bowling action and stuff.

"We are very happy we have two of those guys in our midst. If the wicket suits two spinners, then I guess two spinners can play. If not, we have three quality seamers that will take the field."

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