BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC:

CAPTAIN CHRIS Gayle has been named in a 14-man squad for the third Digicel Test against Australia, but selectors have ended opener Devon Smith's misery, as the regional side searches for a series-levelling win this week.

Gayle has not played in a single Test in the series to date as he has failed to get over a groin injury that has kept him out of action since the final one-day international of the Sri Lanka series in April.

Speculation is that Gayle will suit up for the all-important clash against the Aussies starting on Thursday at Kensington Oval, strengthening the top order that has struggled with the out-of-form Smith.

The 26-year old left-hander managed scores of 32, 28, 16 and 0 in the series and has given way to Guyanese Sewnarine Chattergoon who has recovered from injury.

Chattergoon, 27, played a single Test against Sri Lanka earlier this year but has been sidelined since with a shoulder injury.

Roach included

Impressive Barbadian pacer Kemar Roach has also been included and is the only other change to the squad that drew the second Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in Antigua last week.

Head coach John Dyson said this week that once Gayle was cleared by the medical staff, they would be willing to risk the Jamaican for the crucial match.

"Providing he feels as though it (the injury) is not going to be further damaged throughout the Test," Dyson said.

"He might have to put up with a little bit of discomfort and we'll get the opinion from the medical team. If they say 'look, we don't think it will be damaged and he is able to play', it's worth the risk then."

SQUAD - Chris Gayle (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice captain), Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Fidel Edwards, Xavier Marshall, Runako Morton, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Jerome Taylor.