Gayle keeps focus

Chris Gayle wants to let his bat do the talking © Getty Images

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Chris Gayle insists there is "no love lost" between himself and the West Indies Cricket Board ahead of the NatWest Twenty20 international opener with England at the Brit Oval on Thursday.

Gayle has been at war with the WICB over various issues in recent weeks after some members opposed his appointment as captain, and he vented his anger when three members of the one-day squad did not arrive in time to play against the England Lions last week at New Road.

He has been reprimanded by the board over his comments and they have promised to "pursue the matter" at the end of the tour.

But Gayle was in an unrepentant mood at his pre-match press conference and insists he has the full support and backing of the dressing room.

And he claims he is in the right frame of mind as the Windies look to bounce back from a 3-0 mauling in the Test series.

Gayle said: "There is no love lost between myself and the board. These things happen and you just have to move on in life and not take these things personally against each other.

"I am in the right frame of mind. I have been in tougher situations than this before and I have dug myself out of it and I am just looking forward to contributing to the team as well.

"To be honest, I didn't think it was the right time for the board to deal with these things. I have the cricket to focus on. I have put the negatives aside and tried to be positive because I have a role to play as a captain as well.

"I always stand up for what I believe in and when I'm wrong, I'm wrong and when I'm right, I'm right.

"If there are going to be any consequences you have to stand up and deal with it as a man. I'm always ready for anything.

Gayle is always up for any challenge on or off the pitch

"I'm a big man. I'm always up for the challenge and, whatever the situation may be, I am here to handle it and deal with it whatever the circumstances may be.

"This is crunch time. This has been a real challenge to deal with, everything happening at one time, but as you go on in life things are going to get tougher.

"You have to deal with these situations, be a man and stand up and handle it."

Gayle believes the battle between himself and the board has helped unite the team for the clashes with Paul Collingwood's side.

He said: "Has this pulled the team together? Definitely. That is something we have had discussions about. We have had team meetings and discussed trying to put the negatives aside and try and plan how we are going to compete against England.

"It's been a good unit so far and hopefully we can take what we have done in the practice games into the middle.

"It would be much easier for us to start on a winning note and tomorrow's (Thursday) game can really set up the rest of the series for us. We want to grab that opportunity and make the most of it. It will be a motivational factor for us as well.

"It is also a case of the team regaining their pride after the Test series. There is a lot of pride to gain. We are going to take nothing for granted.

"It hasn't been the best summer for me as an individual, not scoring any runs at all, so I have to put that right and grasp the opportunity to stay in the middle a bit longer."