Bridgetown: Chris Gayle was reinstated as the West Indies captain on Monday, as breifly reported in Tuesday’s Late City edition. He will lead a full-strength squad on a three-Test tour of Australia later this month.

The 30-year-old Jamaican and the other leading players had withdrawn from a home series against Bangladesh in July, and the Champions Trophy in September, due to a long-standing contract conflict with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

Only four players who made themselves available during the strike — all-rounder Darren Sammy, batsman Travis Dowlin, and fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Gavin Tonge — were selected to tour Australia.

Gayle, who has played 82 Tests, will open the batting with 19-year-old Adrian Barath, the only player in the squad without international experience.

Jerome Taylor returns to lead the pace attack, and will be aided by Ravi Rampaul, Roach and Tonge. Shivnarine Chanerpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan and all-rounder Dwayne Bravo are also back.

Cricket Australia, on Tuesday, expressed relief, learning a full-strength West Indies squad would be touring the country.

“We’ve seen in recent times where a West Indies side has struggled against Bangladesh and others, and it’s a great relief to know they’re going to be full strength,” CA chief executive James Sutherland told reporters.

The squad

Chris Gayle (captain), Adrian Barath, Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Brendan Nash, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor, Gavin Tonge. (Agencies)