South Africa will not play against West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle in this month’s Test series.

Gayle has been ruled out of the three Test matches – which will be contested in Centurion, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth – by a back injury.

The hard-hitting left-hander is currently in the country, contracted to the Highveld Lions for the Ram Slam T20 Challenge.

He will be replaced in the touring squad by the in-form Devon Smith, who has not played international cricket since July 2013.

‘The selection panel on Tuesday announced that Smith has been selected to replace Christopher in the West Indies Test squad to South Africa. Gayle has been replaced due to injury,’ read a statement from the West Indies Cricket Board.

‘Smith is in fine form, coming off a first-innings century against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the third round of the Professional Cricket League Regional Four Day Tournament. Smith scored 145 of the Windward Volcanoes 308 for five declared in a match being played in his native Grenada.’

The tour will also feature five ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals.

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