Gayle hoping to give home fans special treat

Kingston (Jamaica), July 5 (IANS/CMC) Chris Gayle returns to Sabina Park with the West Indies for the first time in three years and is hoping he can deliver something special before his hometown fans in the opening One-day International of the five-match series against New Zealand here Thursday.

The big-hitting left-hander last played here back in 2009 when he was captain of the regional side, in a similar double-header against India, reports Caribbean Media Corporation.

"It's been a while ... It's great to be back in my home town and representing the West Indies," the 32-year-old Jamaican said.

"Hopefully, I will give the crowd something to cheer about. We had a good run during the T20 matches in Florida last weekend and that gave us the momentum to move forward."

"The start to this series is very important. From a personal point of view, I want to do well in my home town. I will just look at it as another game," Gayle said.

"I will look to give the team a good start, look to see what the bowlers are doing, and once I get set, look to capitalise and make it count."

Gayle only returned to the West Indies squad last month after ending a protracted standoff with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

In four innings since, he has smashed three half-centuries with two coming last weekend as the West Indies made a clean sweep of the two Twenty20 Internationals against the Black Caps in Florida, US.

Gayle said he expected no devils from the Sabina Park pitch.

"The pitch looks good....should be a very good track for batting. I believe there could be some assistance for the fast bowlers early on as well and at some stage you could expect the spinners to come into play," he said.

"I have played here many times and I'm accustomed to the conditions so we know what to expect."

--IANS/CMC

bs/vt