Smith’s last Test match for the West Indies came against Pakistan in May 2011

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

West Indies batsman Devon Smith has replaced opener Chris Gayle for the upcoming Test series against South Africa.

According to a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) release, Gayle “has been replaced due to [an] injury”.

Even though Gayle did not feature in the West Indies’ curtailed tour of India in October, he recently represented the Highveld Lions in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, where he scored two half-centuries and a hundred in his first three games.

Smith meanwhile has been called up as Gayle’s replacement due to his outstanding form in the ongoing Regional 4 Day Tournament. Smith, who plays for the Windward Islands, has scored two half-centuries and a hundred in his last three games.

The WICB also confirmed that pace bowler Sheldon Cottrell will join the squad on Friday after they insisted that he play in the third round of the first-class competition in order to get prepared for the tour. Cottrell, who represents Jamaica, proved that he is more than ready for the upcoming tour of South Africa as he recorded figures of 5-42 in his side’s 37-run win over Trinidad and Tobago.