NORTH SOUND, Antigua, CMC – West Indies captain Chris Gayle is urging his players to take fresh guard for the Digicel Series against South Africa.
After failing to make the semi-finals of the ICC World Twenty20, Gayle is hopeful that the West Indies can turn things around for the South Africa matches that get going today with a Twenty20 International at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
“It is going to be challenging. We are up against a top team. It is going to be difficult. At the same time, we have to try and apply ourselves and rebound,” Gayle told reporters at the press-series press conference yesterday.
West Indies had a mixed run at the World Twenty20, winning both Group Stage matches before slumping to defeats in two of the three Super Eights matches.
While conceding that South Africa were formidable opponents, he believes there will be less pressure on the Caribbean side for this series which comprises two Twenty20 Internationals, five One-Day Internationals and three Test matches.
“We’ve just got back as a group. Twenty20 is a pressure situation. The guys should be able to cope with it,” Gayle said.
“It’s not the big occasion – meaning the World Cup – but it’s a tough team. We should be ready physically and mentally.”
Gayle spearheaded West Indies to a 14-man victory against India with a belligerent 98 but his teammates were unable to do anything of note with the bat for most of the World Twenty20.
As a result, the captain feels that the players who have been retained should see this series as a chance to impress.
“It should be a wake-up call. It is a pressure situation. The couple of days off could have let the players look into themselves a bit more and look to step up against South Africa,” he said.
