Latest update February 6th, 2025 7:27 AM
England is a quality side, but we’ll be going hard at them – Gayle
By Rawle Welch
West Indies Captain Chris Gayle told a gathering of the media at a press conference yesterday that they respect the quality of the English side, but will be going hard at them in today’s first ODI at the Guyana National Stadium.
Gayle, who is returning to the side after missing the one-off 20/20 game which the West Indies won commenting on his injury, said that “it is not 100%, but it is improving day by day.” “I’ve tested the legs, the last couple of days and even though it is not back to 100%, it’s progressing very well and I will be doing some more short sprints to test it further,” Gayle offered.
He stressed that batting was not a problem right now and he intends to spend a lot of time doing so during the net sessions.
Asked whether there was a rush by him to get back into the side, despite the wonderful job that was done by stand-in Captain Denesh Ramdin in the previous match, responded by saying that “there was no real rush to get back into the team, but I must give credit to the way the guys played.”
He paid tribute to the form Ramnaresh Sarwan is in, adding that the team must feel happy about that.
The WI Captain said that both teams will be starting from scratch and it is important that they keep the momentum gained from the Test Series and the 20/20 match. “It is important for us to keep the momentum, it is a new series and that means it is a new start, but whoever they put in front of us, we will be ready,” Gayle told the media.
Responding to the question of the preference to select Jamaican Nikita Miller ahead of Barbadian Sulieman Benn, the West Indies skipper said that statistically, they are evenly matched, but Miller brings a bit more to the batting and fielding.
“Not to take anything away from Sulieman (Benn), he did a fine job in the 20/20 game, but I think that Nikita brings a little more in the batting and fielding.”
Commenting on recent statements made by St. Lucian Darren Sammy, who it was revealed in the press, said that “we intend to grind them (England) into the ground,” Gayle said he felt that it could have been done differently, but contended that Sammy just expressed himself how he felt at the time.
“He just expressed himself on how he felt at the time.” He, however, cautioned that teams can actually get confident after hearing such statements.
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