Chris Gayle upset at Australian headlines as he plots Test cricket return

Chris Gayle is insistent his Test career is not over and claimed only injury stopped him playing for the West Indies against Australia.

Gayle has not played in a Test since September 2014 against Bangladesh, but is determined to add to his 103 caps once he is fully recovered from back surgery.

Much of his cricket in the last few years has been in limited-over formats, but the 36-year-old still believes he has something to add to a youthful side that was blown away by Australia inside three days in Hobart.

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The former captain will continue his comeback in the Big Bash League, having also played in the Bangladesh Premier League, and says 2016 will hopefully mark his return to the five-day game after criticism in the Australian media that he was only interested in chasing money to play lucrative T20 competitions around the world.

"There's no way I could have actually been part of that Test team (in Hobart), I'm just coming back off injury," he said, responding to headlines such as 'Gayle Farce' which appeared in Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

"I haven't retired from the game. Next year hopefully Test cricket is on the agenda.

"I haven't batted for such a long time. I scored 92 in a game and the next day felt like I'd been hit by a bus. The body will actually take time to build up gradually." 

There has been plenty of criticism for the West Indies after their troubles in Tasmania but Gayle leapt to the defence of a team lacking in the kind of experience he could provide.

"It's a young team, so we have to definitely give it time rather than be so harsh on West Indies cricket all the time," Gayle added.

"You have to give us time ... it won't happen overnight. It kind of reminded me how we used to be dominant against Australia and it's vice versa now. Fingers crossed they can actually turn the tables."