CHRIS GAYLE’S withdrawal from the West Indies’ imminent series in South Africa through a persistent back injury is a likely signal of the end of the left-handed opener’s long, chequered and prolific Test career.
The West Indies next Test series are in the Caribbean, against England in April-May and against Australia in May.
In a brief statement Monday, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) confirmed that Gayle would be “replaced due to injury” by another left-hander, the Windward Islands’ Devon Smith who is the leading scorer after three rounds of the new Professional Cricket League (PCL).
How the selectors view Gayle’s future in short-format cricket is also open to question.