MacGill grabs five

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - Recalled Jamaican batsman Chris Gayle posted a classy century on the opening day of the three-day tour match between Australia and the University of West Indies XI in Barbados today.

Gayle's 129 looked set to propel the University team towards a big total at the Cave Hill ground before Australian leg-spinner Stuart MacGill took five wickets to leave the tourists in a comfortable position.

At stumps, Australia was 0-61 in its first innings in reply to the University's total of 290.

Gayle has been selected in the Windies squad for Thursday's third Test at Kensington Oval after selectors overlooked him for the opening matches because of his controversial decision to play in a lucrative double-wicket competition instead of playing for Jamaica in the Caribbean's major domestic final.

The Windies need Gayle's talent because he looked impressive today, smacking 15 fours and three sixes, against an Australian attack headlined by Glenn McGrath (2-41) in his first match in more than one month.

McGrath hit his range early, claiming a wicket with his fifth ball when University captain Philo Wallace (four) edged the right-armer to makeshift wicketkeeper Jimmy Maher.

But the home team raced to 1-200 with Gayle and Jason Haynes (58) compiling a 195-run stand before Gayle was eventually caught from the bowling of MacGill (5-40), whose control has been improving as the tour continues.

The NSW spinner bowled tightly on the final day of the second Test last Wednesday in Trinidad as Australia retained the Frank Worrell Trophy.

MacGill's haul was welcomed by the Australians because they didn't want to spend long in the field before the third Test.

Brad Williams (0-28) and Ashley Noffke (0-61) were among the non-Test players to receive a run along with NSW batsman Michael Clarke.

Clarke was expected to bat tomorrow depending on the progress of Maher (28 not out) and Justin Langer (28 not out), who looked comfortable against the University attack.

Today's match was played at the University's Cave Hill campus, where Worrell was buried following his death in 1967.