Gayle hopes to play first Test against Aussies

Kingston:

West Indies captain Chris Gayle, who abruptly quit the Tour of Australia to be with his sick mother, will head Down Under on Monday and hopes to play in the first Test, Jamaican media reported.

Local television reported on Saturday that Gayle told reporters he would be leaving tomorrow for the trip back to Australia. The first Test of the West Indies' tour starts on Thursday in Brisbane.

The report said Gayle was attending a football game involving his high school Excelsior High when he spoke to reporters but gave no update on his ailing mother. She is said to be suffering from a heart problem and was admitted to a hospital in Kingston, the island's capital.

Gayle, who was recently renamed the captain of the West Indies team, flew back to Jamaica last week with permission from the team's management when his mother was hospitalised.

While team officials voiced their support, there are concerns about whether Gayle will be ready to take his place in the team when the Test starts after so much travel.

The hard hitting left hander and part time bowler is crucial to the success of the Caribbean team and he missed the four-day warm-up match against Queensland Bulls, which ended in a draw yesterday.