90% fit Gayle ready for Aussies

"I'm not 100% fit, I'm about 90% but I can cope," Gayle told journalists after the West Indies training session at the Kensington Oval on Wednesday.

He disputed West Indies head coach John Dyson's claim that he was 905 ready going into the Second Digicel Test in Antigua which the West Indies drew.

"The physio said I was about 70% (fit in Antigua) so I didn't want to risk it so I gave it more time in between the Test matches and it is feeling a bit better now so I'm ready to go," Gayle explained.

He said while he is not restricted when batting, bowling or fielding that he will have to be cautious when taking sharp singles.

"The most difficult thing is running between the wickets, it's a bit difficult but it is comfortable batting-wise, I just have to monitor it properly," Gayle revealed.

Gayle is also looking forward to playing on what he deemed to be the best Test pitch for the Digicel Home Series.

"Whatever come at us we are looking forward to it, hopefully we can cope with it, it's going to be a good wicket, it's very hard and it's good for batting as well, the wicket here in Barbados comes on so you can play shots a bit more, your shot selection is very key here," Gayle told reporters.

The 28 year old captain is not uncomfortable with the way in which his team played under stand in captain Ramnaresh Sarwan.

"We've been playing good cricket, it's just at the end where we fall short in the batting, we need the stability in the middle to win games for us. All in all it is getting there but hopefully it can get better, we need to build on whatever start we get and push it to the limit," Gayle reasoned.

With Devon Smith and Brenton Parchment dropped and rookie opener Xavier Marshall batting well in his only Test this season Gayle hinted that Marshall may be considered to bat in the middle order as he and Sewnarine Chattergoon face the new ball.

"He's (Chattergoon) a very good player and definitely one for the future, he got a good start in Sri Lanka but injury came in to play again, he's a very gutsy player, he might be small but he is very gutsy and has good technique and whenever he gets a start he will bat long," Gayle said of the little Guyanese left hander who missed the First and Second Digicel Tests against Australia due to injury.

Gayle said if all three openers do make the final eleven then naturally one of them will have to bat in the middle order. It is a highly likely scenario as Runako Morton, despite scoring an aggressive half century in Jamaica may lose his spot to one of the younger batsmen for the Final Digicel Test.