Smith replaces injured Gayle on Windies

Cricket with Dalchand Bissoon

  Devon Smith – to South Africa

Devon Smith – to South Africa

Devon Smith, the Grenada and Windward Islands batsman, has been selected to replace the injured Christopher Gayle in the West Indies test squad to South Africa.

Smith, 33, has played 33 tests for the West Indies since his debut against Australia in Georgetown, Guyana, in April 2003. He has scored 1,384 runs with one century and five half centuries at an average of 24.71.

He also appeared in 47 ODIs, scoring 1,059 with also one century. His last test appearance was against Pakistan in Georgetown in May 2011.

Smith, the left-handed opening batsman, scored a century 145 to lead his team to victory against the Leeward Islands in the third round of the WICB Professional League Four-Day Tournament last weekend.

Grenada Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell congratulated Smith on his return to the West Indies team.

“We are happy for and proud of him as he continues to grow in the game. We look forward to the South Africa tour with increased excitement to see our boy in action,” said Mitchell.

The prime minister also conveyed best wishes and a speedy recovery to Chris Gayle.

The WICB Selection Panel also confirmed that Jamaica fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell will depart with Smith later this week to join the West Indies test squad which left the Caribbean last Sunday for South Africa.

West Indies open their tour of South Africa with a three-day warm-up match against a South Africa Invitation XI on Dec. 10 at Benoni. They are scheduled to play three tests, three T20Is and five ODIs.