-
West Indies captain Chris Gayle - Source: Photosport -
Related
Australia will have a jet-lagged Chris Gayle in their cross-hairs from the outset but Ricky Ponting believes cricket's Mr Cool is wired to overcome his dreadful Test preparation.
West Indies skipper Gayle will arrive back in Brisbane early Wednesday morning, little more than 24 hours before joining Ponting at the toss for the first Test at the Gabba.
He is rushing back from Jamaica after his mother recovered from a heart scare which had her admitted to hospital in Kingston last week.
Ponting admitted a long plane journey via Los Angeles would make it difficult for Gayle but saw him as one man who could cope with the lack of sleep, and net sessions, come Thursday morning.
"It will be hard but Chris finds a way not to get out of first gear too much," said Ponting on Monday.
"He's pretty relaxed with the way he goes about things.
"So I don't think there will be any muscle strains or any hammys ripped off the bone.
"That's just the way the West Indies are. He's a dynamic player but he's pretty laidback with the way things go around him."
Gayle, 30, does have experience in flying in late for a Test series, having arrived only two days before playing England earlier this year.
Australia's spearhead Mitchell Johnson said he would waste no time in testing the explosive opener out if the Windies batted first.
"If the wicket is nice and bouncy like it was last night (in the Twenty20 exhibition match) then definitely," Johnson said. "I don't mind bowling a short ball when it has that pace in it."
Former great Shane Warne said Gayle's presence was crucial for the embattled tourists and would give them a huge boost.
"They probably didn't expect him to be there for the first Test. He's made a big effort to come back again, that will give them a lift," Warne said.
"He's not one of those guys who is going to occupy the crease for hours and hours.
"He likes to get out there, so I don't think it's going to matter too much that he might miss a net session before the Test."
