Gayle: There is always responsibility on my shoulder
West Indies opener Chris Gayle said that he feels responsibility on his shoulder in many forms."There is always responsibility on my shoulder, not just as a senior player, as a batter as well and at the top order leading from the front," Gayle said as he spoke with media at Lord's on Tuesday afternoon. Following are excerpts from further comments Gayle made on various issues raised by journalists...
On the limited practice thus far:
We would have liked more practice going into the first game but having said that there is nothing we can do about the rain, we have to use the indoor facilities and try to make the best use of it. There is a disadvantage towards us but we are professional, we are going to go out there, put our best foot forward, support each other and play as a team and once we play as a team there shouldn't be any problem really.
On the challenges that lie ahead for the West Indies batsmen:
The likes of (Steve) Harmison who is in good form and (Matthew) Hoggard as well, it's going to be very challenging, we're looking forward to it and we are up for it.
On the new team policies in place for the tour:
There is a bit in changes, there is always changes in life and cricket as well, the curfew will keep the guys more on their toes and try and get the best out of the players even more. I wouldn't agree with curfew but it is the team policy so you have to go along with it. If it was in my hands I would let the guys be more free to do want they want to do leading into the first match.
On whether the World Cup campaign will act as inspiration:
We've put the World Cup behind us, this is Test cricket and we're going to enjoy the summer.
On how the team spirit is:
The young guys ask me questions, I share my views with them about playing here at Lord's, they are up for it, they are looking forward for it, everyone wants to go. We share information, once we do that we can go in the middle and put it into good use.
On England not being in the best form in Test cricket:
They are coming off a losing note (Ashes Test series), that would be good for us even though we are the underdogs. That would be at the back of their minds, they are going to come hard at us and we are up to the task.
On what his expectations are for the tour:
My expectation is that we will play good cricket, there is a new captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, we are going to support him and the senior guys will have to step up and lead from the front, without that there might be a bit of a struggle, having said that we have good, quality players, Runako (Morton) got a hundred in the last game and you have the likes of Fidel (Edwards) coming back into the team and Corey Collymore leading (the bowling line up). We have a good bunch.
On whether the West Indies team can push the England team:
We can push any team even though it's not going to be easy, like a rollover. The English conditions are not going to be easy.
On what life is like without Brian Lara:
It's a different feeling, all the guys have overcome it. We have to make names for ourselves, someone has to step up. There are a lot of guys knocking on the door trying to come in the team as well, the guys in the squad now will try to stamp their authority with whatever chance they get.
On whether the post-World Cup criticism stung the players:
We always come under criticism, it's nothing new to us but we don't study that, we're here to play cricket, we have to put that behind us and rally around each other.