Sport

Gayle using County spell to sharpen skills

West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle - file

Worcester, England, cmc

WEST INDIES BATSMAN Chris Gayle is using his short spell at English County Worcestershire to hone his batting skills in the difficult English conditions.

The 25-year-old opener, one of the players who missed the recent West Indies tour of Sri Lanka because of a contract row, has been unable to reach three figures so far this season but says he was still making the necessary adjustments.

"I think now it's the kind of conditions that really test your skills," Gayle said.

"Sometimes the wickets here are good to bat on, but sometimes you might find it a bit difficult to score."

He added: "But as a professional, you should be looking to accept anything in terms of cricket. You have to play the wicket as you see it."

Regaining form

Gayle, who has scored 3,466 runs in 52 Tests, has only managed to score 159 runs in four innings in the four-day competition, including two fifties.

However, the left-hander said that it was helping him to regain some form ahead of his international schedule later this year, as he is expected to return to the West Indies team, pending a solution to the players contract row with the West Indies Cricket Board.

"This is my first bit of cricket for quite some time," Gayle pointed out.

"A while ago, my agent invited me to play for Worcestershire and I said I was interested. At the time I was not playing any cricket for whatever circumstances I found myself in." He added: "It's the first time I've ever played county cricket and I'm enjoying it. I have some more cricket to play in Australia before the end of the year. It then starts again in November to next summer. I've got a lot of cricket coming up, so I want to keep fit at Worcestershire and see what happens."

Gayle became the second West Indies player this season to sign with an English County after Ramnaresh Sarwan signed with Gloucestershire and says he is interested in returning to the South West England club next season.

"I've told Worcestershire that I think I will be able to play county cricket again next season," Gayle said.

"If I'm available, I'm willing to come back and play for Worcestershire again. It will depend on what happens next year."