Chris Gayle rejoins Sydney Thunder T20

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle, the Jamaican master-blaster, has rejoined the Sydney Thunder squad for Australian’s domestic t20 competition beginning on 7 December. The 32-year-old, who was a huge hit Down Under with the most sixes (22) in last year’s Big Bash League (BBL), will move on to Australia after his stint in the newly-introduced Sri Lankan t20 tournament.

Gayle smashed 11 sixes in one innings last year when he destroyed Adelaide with an unbeaten 54-ball century, and averaged 42 for the Thunder to finish the eight-team BBL with 252 runs. He explained: “I always wanted to return after my experience last year in the BBL, and I love Sydney so can’t wait to get amongst the guys again.”

Gayle is in today’s 13-man West Indies Test squad for the first time in 18 months, following some recent solid one-day displays against New Zealand. He suffered an exile following a controversial falling out with the West Indies Cricket Board and last played at Test level against Sri Lanka in 2010. Gayle is expected to make an impact with fellow veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the 1st Test against New Zealand starting on Wednesday at the Vivian Richards Ground in Antigua.

Sunil Narine, who impressed for the West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI to brush aside New Zealand at the weekend, is the only spinner, with paceman Fidel Edwards the surprise exclusion.

Squad: Darren Sammy (captain), Denesh Ramdin (vice-captain), Adrian Barath, Tino Best, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Assad Fudadin, Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach and Marlon Samuels.