It would have pained Chris Gayle to concede them but the West Indies captain agreed on two self-evident truths leading into today’s must-win third ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
On Wednesday, he stated that there was “no doubt” that big left-arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger “has my measure, definitely”.
Yesterday, the big, power-hitting left-hander acknowledged Australia’s superiority in their two massive wins – by 113 runs and eight wickets – in the first two matches of the series of five.
“(Australia) definitely execute better than us,” he said at the pre-match media briefing. “They are more disciplined than us as well.”
“In the bowling department and batting department, they kind of stick to their plans at all times,” he added. “The majority of the time we set targets and we don’t actually live up to the expectations. We need to try to execute and be a bit more disciplined in all areas.”
Although he has had to swiftly readjust his confident pre-series prediction of a 4-1 triumph for his injury-hit team, Gayle still held out that the West Indies would bounce back to win the last three matches.
“I guess I’m going to keep getting that question over and over (but) I’m still confident,” he said. “If it does nothing (and we lose tomorrow), it’s still 3-2, we’ll try to win the next two games.” At a lengthy huddle after practice at the SCG yesterday, Gayle told his team not to lose hope.
“(It was) just to remind the guys to still have the self-belief, still have that self-confidence to go out there and beat Australia,” he said.
“We have to keep reminding each other how good we are and that we have the capability to get the job done,” he added. “There are no two ways about it – we have to get our act together and try and step up to the plate.”
In the absence of key batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, exciting young opener Adrian Barath and No.1 all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, all back in the Caribbean injured, Gayle carries the weight of the batting almost single-handedly.
His early dismissals to Bollinger, off his fifth ball for 7 in the opener in Melbourne and first ball in Adelaide on Tuesday, triggered immediate collapses to 12 for thee and 16 for four. The West Indies never fully recovered and were all out for 143 in 34.2 overs and 170 in 39.4 overs. Australia are confident enough, after a 5-0 clean sweep of their preceding ODI series against Pakistan, to rest two of their key players, all-rounder Shane Watson and wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, for the next two matches. They were replaced by Adam Voges and Tim Paine.
Kemar Roach is one member of the team Gayle doesn’t have to concern himself over a lack of confidence.
“We are going to win,” the 21-year-old boldly predicted yesterday. “I’m confident in the guys. We have a good captain, good management team, good players and I know we are going to pull through and win this series. I’m very confident of that.”
On his first overseas tour, Roach impressed observers with his pace and control during the three Tests in Australia in November and December, especially giving Australian captain Ricky Ponting a hard-time with lifting, high-speed short balls.
But he had a lean start to the ODI series with just two wickets at 42.5 runs each.
“I could do a lot better, but I’m not putting myself under any pressure,” he said. “If getting out Ponting is what I’m supposed to do, that is what I’m going to do.”
Roach has taken notice of the injury plague affecting fast bowlers everywhere, among them the West Indies’ pair Fidel Edwards and Jerome Taylor and several Australians.
He said that, while he was continually striving to improve, he would not over-train.
“I’m working on some stuff. I’m not trying to stretch it, I’m still 21, pretty young,” he said. “I think there is room for improvement. I’m working on that. The body is holding up well. It is a strain on your body as a fast bowler, but once you are fit, everything will be OK.”
After sampling some trendy threads from Australian fashion label Flinders Lane while shopping in Sydney, Roach looked more catalogue model than 90-miles-an-hour tearaway.
“I enjoy the style, the flavour, I like to look good,” he said.
