Gayle is a doubt for the first Test at the Gabba after hurriedly leaving here on Wednesday to return to Jamaica to attend to his ill mother.
“To get the support of the guys on the field and off the field as well, the way the players come to you and ask for advice, a lot of the senior players in the team look up to me as a player who knows a lot about the game,” said Ramdin, who is leading the Windies in the four-day first class match against Queensland.
“So far we’ve played under Chris, we’ve enjoyed the success so far. If given the opportunity I would give 100 per cent, and I know the guys are behind me 100 per cent as well.
“For us to play together as a team, work as a unit and at the end of the day achieve one goal, which is to win.”
Ramdin has never led the West Indies in a Test or One-Day International but may debut if Gayle does not make it back in time for the match.
The 24-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman was appointed vice-captain on the tour of New Zealand last December and has already been identified as a future Windies captain.
Despite Ramdin’s rather modest record, however – he averages 24 in 36 Tests – coach David Williams was quick to endorse his potential as a leader.
“Denesh is a guy who is always proactive, always looking for areas to try and get batters out, always looking to see what he can do different,” said Williams, a former West Indies wicketkeeper.
“He is very intelligent and he reads the game very, very well. We hope that in the next couple of years he will be the one to carry the ball for West Indies cricket.”
West Indies are searching for their first win against Australia in 15 years, following a poor run against the World champions in recent time.
They have not beaten the Aussies since the 1992/93 rubber but Ramdin said the Caribbean side would continue to press for a change of fortunes.
“‘There is a long legacy behind our cricketing generations,” Ramdin said.
“We will continue to work hard, take a page out of the Australians’ book, the way they go about their cricket – they play it hard, tough, they enjoy it. We just need to do that, I think we’re getting there.”
