Gayle, Taylor ready to stage comeback

Opener Chris Gayle and pace bowler Jerome Taylor have been named in the West Indies 14-member squad for the second Test against Australia at Antigua. Both players who were sidelined due to injury for the first Test, which was won by the visitors, have recovered and will hope to bring their much-needed expertise to the West Indies arsenal.

Gayle has been out of action since April 15 due to a groin injury he picked up against Sri Lanka. Even though he was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders team at the DLF Indian Premier League (IPL), the West Indian was rendered unfit to play.

Jerome was nursing a lower back injury which caused him to miss the first Test at Kingston, Jamaica.

The duo will be replacing spinner Amit Jaggernauth, who made his debut for his national side in the first Test, and all-rounder Ryan Hinds who was named in the 14-member squad for the first Test but did not play. Jamaican batsman Xavier Marshall retains his place in the squad.

Both Gayle and Taylor seem to have recovered from their respective injuries and in all probability will play in the second Test which starts on Friday at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Antigua. If Gayle does play, he will take over the West Indies captaincy from compatriot Ramnaresh Sarwan.

**West Indies squad for second Test :**Chris Gayle (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Xavier Marshall, Runako Morton, Brenton Parchment, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor