LONDON, England  CMC – West Indies batting icon Brian Lara has endorsed Chris Gayle as the choice for West Indies captain and has urged the region to throw its full support behind the embattled Jamaican.

Speaking to CMC Sports here at the World Travel Market, the record holder for the highest Test and first class scores said regardless of all the recent controversy, everyone needed to unite behind Gayle, as the team headed into a difficult series against Australia.
“Obviously we have to gather our support and put it behind Chris. There is no reason to debate or go on about it,” said Lara, also a former West Indies captain.

“He’s the one heading to Australia, we’re going to be playing against one of the best teams in the world, obviously losing the Ashes they are going to come looking for revenge on anyone, and we don’t need to be mulling over the fact of who should be captain or who shouldn’t be captain.

“Chris Gayle is going to get my support and I hope he’s going to get everyone’s support.”
Gayle was reappointed to the post last week, despite his modest record, recent ill-advised statements about the captaincy and his involvement in the bitter contracts dispute which saw the depletion of the Windies team for the Bangladesh series and the ICC Champions Trophy.

Lara said while it was left to be seen whether the move would pay dividends, he contended that Gayle had managed a few achievements during his tenure.

 “At some point in time as captain he did some wonderful things, winning a Test match in South Africa and several other things,” the former master batsman pointed out.

“Obviously there are some statements that he made or maybe what he’s done over the last year or so but I wouldn’t get into that part of it. I still believe when a decision is made [you support that decision].

“The captain is as good as his team and if everyone puts support behind Chris Gayle you never know, he can be very successful. You can have someone who could be astute as a leader or is tactically good and he does not get that support from [the West Indies Cricket Board], public and players, he’s not going to represent himself very well.”

There had been speculation that Gayle would have been rivalled by Daren Ganga for the top spot but selectors indicated that the Trinidadian’s batting form would have posed a problem.

Lara also rubberstamped Ganga as leadership material, noting he had “very good credentials” for the captaincy position.
“The captain is the captain. If Chris Gayle is selected as captain he’s the one they (WICB) feel is best able to represent us,” said Lara who quit international cricket following the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean.
“Obviously Daren has very good credentials in terms of leadership but it is a very sticky situation that you’re looking at someone to lead the team but obviously when the 15 is selected he is not in the 15 so that is a bit of a tricky situation.”