Chris Gayle is set to make his first competitive appearance

Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer

Opener Chris Gayle is set to make his first competitive appearance today, since picking up a hamstring injury while on tour of India last November.

He is down to participate in the first of two warm-up matches for Jamaica, ahead of next week's start of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) NAGICO Insurance Super50 in Trinidad and Tobago.

Gayle, who last week returned from Australia where he underwent treatment and rehabilitation, is set to captain Jamaica against a Best of The Rest team at Sabina Park.

"Chris (Gayle) is back in training and should be part of the first practice match," Jamaica head coach, Junior Bennett, told The Gleaner yesterday.

He added: "The match will be the first of two for us during which time we are hoping to correct a few things ahead of the Super50 tournament."

Gayle, who trained with the Jamaica team for the first time yesterday since picking up the injury, is making a return to the leadership position after missing out last season, largely due to international and club commitments. He last captained the national team two seasons ago, when Jamaica lifted the Super50 crown.

14-MEMBER SQUAD

Former captain Tamar Lam-bert, who is also a member of Jamaica's 14-member squad, led the team to a semi-final placing last season.

The second warm-up match is set for Saturday at the same venue.

Jamaica, who has in their squad current West Indies players Andre Russell, Nikita Miller and Sheldon Cotterrell, are down to face title holders Windward Islands in the opening match of the Super50 at Queen's Park Oval next week Thursday.

The Windwards and Jamaica have been drawn in Zone A of the eight-team tournament alongside Guyana and guest team Ireland.

Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Leeward Islands and Combined Campuses and Colleges will compete in Zone B.