Gayle sees the need to step up

"I always have a responsibility in this team," he stated in his typical laconic manner as the squad prepared for a net session at the Eden Park ground yesterday.

"I have a job to do. There are younger players in the team who are inexperienced. I have to use my experience and share it with them. Whatever I can offer I will definitely put it forward to them, but at the same time, everyone has to learn quickly and once you get an opportunity, you have to grab it with both hands," he said.

Despite the usual media preoccupation with his "Cool Cat" image, the hard-hitting left-handed opener has not always heeded his own advice. Yet together with skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul, vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and former captain Brian Lara (who has opted out of the one-dayers), Gayle remains a key member of a batting line-up brimful of talent but dogged perennially by alarming inconsistency.

His own career, with big hundreds scattered among a string of low scores and irresponsible dismissals, reflects that inconsistency, even though he acknowledges the need to play according to the circumstances.

"You have to adapt to whatever situation there is," he stated. "It’s not all the time you’re going to see Chris Gayle go out there and blast, blast blast for a quick 20.

"That won’t do the team any good. It’s just a mental part of being a batsman that you have to work out the situation out there and adapt to it."

As much as West Indian fans will be hoping that he takes his own advice in the longer version of the game, and even in the One-Day Internationals to a certain extent, all are expecting to see this ferocious hitter on an instant rampage in the tour-opening 20-20 match against New Zealand at Eden Park on Thursday night.

Following that crash-bang fiesta, the teams travel to Wellington for the first of the five One-Day Internationals on Saturday.

New Zealand are favourites for that series, and moreso for the three Tests that follow in March.