Gayle remaining positive

Big hitting captain staying upbeat ahead of second ODI

By James Mason   Last updated: 8th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Gayle remaining positive

Gayle: Skipper staying upbeat

He is a key wicket so we have to make sure we are always on our game when we bowl to him.

Shane Watson
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Captain Chris Gayle is remaining positive ahead of the second one-day international against Australia on Tuesday, despite the West Indies suffering a heavy defeat in the first match.

The tourists were beaten by a convincing 113-run margin in the series opener - with only two players scoring over 20.

Gayle admits that batting is the most worrying part of the side's game, but he insists there were some positives to take out of the game.

He said: "We did well to restrict Australia to 257. Kemar Roach did well at the top of the order and then (Kieron) Pollard actually came in the middle over's and picked up key wickets as well.

"We did well with the ball but my worry is always with our batting but having said all that we lost three early wickets (yesterday) and it set us back."

The 30-year-old highlighted the performance of Pollard in the previous match, with the captain delighted at the progress he is making.

Key man

Gayle added: "He looked a different sort of player, a more confident player going into these games.

"I was happy with his performance but just disappointed the way he got out.

"He was actually one guy who was looking at giving us the best chance of taking us home."

However Aussie all-rounder Shane Watson believes that Gayle is the still the danger man for the West Indies.

He said: "That's the big key to him; you don't want to give him room to swing his arms.

"Dougie (Bollinger) bowled beautifully to him (in game one). There was a little bit of swing there as well and a little bit of extra bounce with that new ball so it is always going to be difficult (for Gayle).

"That is our plan to keep him tucked up and hope that he might hit a pull shot in the air or go for one shot too many.

"He is a key wicket so we have to make sure we are always on our game when we bowl to him."