BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

West Indies captain Chris Gayle will return in time for the first Test against Australia starting in Brisbane on Thursday, after flying home last week to attend to his ill mother in Jamaica.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) announced yesterday that the talismanic opener would depart the Caribbean today, cooling speculation the beleaguered Windies would be without their inspirational leader for the opening Test of the three-match rubber.

He is expected to arrive a day before the first Test bowls off.

Significant recovery

With just days remaining before the Gabba Test, speculation was rife that Gayle would miss the match, further depleting a West Indies team badly in need of their best players.

However, 29-year-old Jamaican said his mother had made a significant recovery and he would now turn his attention to the Australia tour once again.

"I want to thank my teammates and the team management for the support they gave me and I also want to thank the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA), the West Indies Cricket Board and all the fans for their prayers and best wishes," Gayle said yesterday.

"I am really happy that my mom is back home and is able to move around and in good spirits. I now want to focus on handling business in Australia and fulfilling my obligations to the team."

Welcome news

Gayle's return will be welcome news to the West Indies as it will boost a batting line-up which struggled in the first innings of the four-day first-class match against Queensland Bulls, forcing them to battle on the final day to force a draw on Saturday.

In Gayle's absence, vice-captain Denesh Ramdin took over the duties of leading the squad and was already preparing for the role in Brisbane.

Gayle hurried home from Brisbane just days after arriving there following the news his mother had taken ill and had been hospitalised.

He has been out of action in recent months due to the players strike, missing the Bangladesh tour and the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa, and the Brisbane Test will mark his first match for the Windies in four months.