Bridgetown (Barbados), Nov 3 (AP) Chris Gayle was reinstated as West Indies captain to lead a full-strength squad on a three-test tour of Australia later this month.

The 30-year-old Jamaican was appointed yesterday after he and other leading players had withdrawn from a home series against Bangladesh in July and the Champions Trophy in September due to a long-standing contract conflict with the West Indies Cricket Board.

Only four players that made themselves available during the strike action - allrounder Darren Sammy, batsman Travis Dowlin and fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Gavin Tonge - were selected to tour Australia from November 18.

Gayle, who has played 82 tests, will open the batting with 19-year-old Adrian Barath, the only player in the squad without international experience.

Barath, from Trinidad & Tobago, had been chosen in a 13-man squad for the test series against Bangladesh before the dispute between WICB and the West Indies Players' Association.

- (Agencies)