Gayle wary of duo

West Indies skipper singles out Sri Lankan bowlers

Last updated: 9th March 2008

Chris Gayle West Indies v South Africa 1st Test Dec 07

Gayle: Wary

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West Indies skipper Chris Gayle has singled out Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas as Sri Lanka's biggest threats in their upcoming series.

Sri Lanka travel to the Caribbean for two Tests and three one-dayers, and Gayle believes the two veteran bowlers will be the tourists' main danger.

Off-spinner Murali is Test cricket's leading wicket taker with 723 scalps and is an obvious threat whenever he plays.

Veteran left-arm seamer Vaas is also capable causing serious damage to the batting line-up according to Gayle, after claiming 331 wickets in 102 matches.

"Those two (Muralitharan and Vaas) guys have been their wicket-takers in Test cricket - those two are challenges," Gayle told CMC Sports.

"You have the likes of (Lasith) Malinga, those guys are playing international cricket now and getting a feel and getting more experienced and so forth playing overseas."

Batting

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene and wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara form the bedrock of Sri Lanka's batting and both average above 50.

Opening batsman Gayle is fully aware that Sri Lanka will also pose a threat with bat as well as ball.

"The batting line-up as well, Jayawardene the captain and Sangakkara is in terrific form, (along with) Dilshan (Tillakaratne)," Gayle added.

"You have to work really hard to score runs and actually get wickets against them.

"We are looking forward to the challenge and hopefully the preparation can be good going in against Sri Lanka as well."