Taylor's Australia tour cut short

Jerome Taylor will head back to Jamaica tomorrow after being forced out of West Indies' tour with hip and back injuries

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West Indies have been hit by the news that pace spearhead Jerome Taylor will miss the remainder of their tour of Australia.

The 25-year-old injured his left hip and back after bowling just nine overs on the first day of the opening Test in Brisbane, which West Indies lost by an innings and 65 runs.

Captain Chris Gayle, who described the Gabba thumping as a “disaster”, had hoped Taylor would be fit for the second Test starting in Adelaide on Friday.

But Taylor, who did not play in the warm-up game against Queensland which preceded the first Test due to general soreness, will return to Jamaica tomorrow. The West Indies management have yet to name a replacement.

The tourists are expected to have middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan back for the second Test after a back injury kept him out of action last week.