CHESTER LE STREET, England, (Reuters) – Rival  captains Andrew Strauss and Chris Gayle played down reports of  friction between them before the second test between England and  West Indies starting today.

Strauss criticised his opposite number for arriving in  England just two days before the first test and Gayle countered  with negative comments about the England skipper’s ability to  play Twenty20 cricket.

“I have a very good relationship with Gayle, I’ve had no  problems with him,” Strauss told a news conference yesterday.

“Everyone is entitled to his opinion and to be honest he may  have been right about my Twenty20 form.”

Gayle, whose team were crushed by 10 wickets in the first  test at Lord’s, was equally keen not to exaggerate the  situation.

“I respect Strauss, we are all big men and the comments are  part of the game,” he said. “I have never had any conflict with  him.”

Gayle was quoted in newspapers yesterday as saying that  he was not planning to stay as West Indies captain for much  longer and that he would not miss test cricket.

“I don’t see myself playing test cricket for a long time,”  he said. “That’s all I meant. We play a lot of cricket, there  are injuries and sometimes you have to listen to your body.”