Chris Gayle's teammate sent masseuse 'sexy' text

Chris Gayle bats against England. Photo / AP

A West Indies cricketer who told a Sydney jury his teammate Chris Gayle did not expose himself to a massage therapist has admitted sending her a text saying "sexy".

Dwayne Smith denied lying about Gayle to protect his friend and because he himself had put the therapist in an uncomfortable position by sending the text just before she gave him a massage.

Fairfax Media journalist Chloe Saltau who wrote the story claiming Gayle had exposed himself told the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday she believed the therapist, Leanne Russell, and was not motivated to write her story in a bid to destroy his reputation.

Ms Saltau said Ms Russell had "nothing to gain and a reasonable amount to lose" by coming forward with her claims.

Gayle is suing Fairfax for defamation over a series of articles published in January 2016.

He says Fairfax falsely claimed he intentionally exposed his genitals to, and indecently propositioned, Ms Russell in the West Indies dressing room during a Sydney training session at the 2015 World Cup.

Smith testified that he was in the dressing room with Gayle when Ms Russell came in on February 11, 2015.

His teammate was not wearing a towel and did not pull it down to partially expose his penis to her saying "is this what you are looking for", he said.

"I think that is something that you would remember if that happened and that didn't happen."

Under cross-examination by Matt Collins QC, for Fairfax, Smith agreed that on the previous day he received a massage from Ms Russell.

"Did you send a text, about 2.29pm, while being massaged by her in which you said 'sexy'?" Dr Collins asked.

Smith accepted he sent it but said it was "maybe a minute before the massage".

Smith said he could not remember receiving an email sent by team manager Sir Richie Richardson to players referring to Ms Russell being put in a "few uncomfortable situations" and reminding them to treat her with respect.

He denied knowing the "situations" were Gayle's exposure and his text.

Dr Collins said Ms Russell would give evidence about Gayle exposing part of his penis to her before she ran into the stand and burst into tears.

Ms Saltau said Ms Russell, a work colleague of her husband, contacted her after Gayle asked reporter Mel McLaughlin to have a drink and telling her "Don't blush baby" during a live TV interview.

Ms Russell told her Gayle's comments made her "physically sick" and she wanted to show support for McLaughlin and other women working in sport.Gayle's barrister, Bruce McClintock SC, asked whether it crossed her mind that Ms Russell might be a fabulist inclined to invent things.

"No, I didn't think that about her," Saltau replied.

She also disagreed with his suggestion that the report was "disgracefully bad journalism", saying it had been a legitimate story.The hearing continues.

- AAP