West Indies star Chris Gayle to shelve retirement, revive Test career

Five years after playing his last Test match, West Indies superstar Chris Gayle has shocked the cricket community after revealing he plans to take on India in all three forms post the World Cup.

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Chris Gayle says his retirement plans have been shelved with the West Indies superstar wanting to play his first Test match in five years after the World Cup.

Gayle, 39, left a press conference in Manchester stunned on Wednesday when he revealed the 50-over tournament in England was no longer the end of the road for world cricket’s No.1 entertainer.

“I still have a few games to go – maybe another series to go as well,” Gayle said.

“Who knows, we will see what happens.”

Pressed on what was to come for the six-machine who is averaging a career-best 68.9 runs in 2019, Gayle confirmed the red ball was on his horizon.

Chris Gayle is set to make a Test cricket comeback. Picture: AP

“My plans after the World Cup? I’ll maybe play a Test match against India, and then I’ll definitely play the ODIs against India,” he said.

“I won’t play the T20s. That’s my plan after the World Cup.”

West Indies host India across all three formats in August and September. They will play three ODIs and two Test matches, with the second in Kingston, Jamaica, where Gayle is from.

Gayle said in February that he would “cut the string” on his career after his fifth World Cup.

“Definitely, in 50-over cricket, it is the end for me,” he said at the time.

Chris Gayle is in career-best ODI form. Picture: AP

“I’ll let the youngsters have some fun and I can sit back in the party stand and watch them have some fun.”

West Indies captain Jason Holder was unaware of Gayle’s stunning retirement U-turn.

“It’s great. It’ll be good to have Chris around. He’s still got a lot left,” Holder said.

Gayle played the last of his 103 Tests in September, 2014 and wore his highest score – 333 – on his back for Melbourne Renegades three years ago.

Originally published as West Indies star Chris Gayle to shelve retirement, revive Test career