Cricket: Advice from champ timely for test hero

By MARK GEENTY

GRENADA - Chris Gayle could not have asked for a better mentor as he took an early step towards the top echelon of test batsmen yesterday.

Gayle was taken aside by great West Indian opener Gordon Greenidge, nemesis of the 1985 and 1987 New Zealand sides, who told him a few home truths before his 204 yesterday.

The tall Jamaican, still just 22, has shown in two years since his test debut he has the power and grace to match his team-mate Brian Lara. It was just in his head where the problems lay.

His eight-hour knock yesterday, where he was given let-offs on 137 and 199, showed he still had a bit to learn, but some of Greenidge's words had also hit the mark.

"He told me that this is what I should have done a long time ago because as an opening batsman you cannot get to 60 and 70 and give your hand away. He emphasised I needed to carry on and get big scores."

Gayle was man of the series in the one-dayers against New Zealand as he averaged 48.5 at a strike rate of 87. The tourists' bowlers tested his mental toughness yesterday where he resisted the past temptation to flay at everything.

"The New Zealanders do not think I am a patient batsman," he said.

"I played a patient role and it paid off for me, but I think they kept bowling outside off-stump wanting to lure me into making an error. I was determined not to fall into their trap.

"I missed out on a number of opportunities to make big scores in previous matches, but it is time for me to make up for all that lost time."

Seasoned West Indian watchers have compared his upright stance and punishing driving to the great Clive Lloyd, and while the quietly-spoken Gayle himself wasn't so sure, he showed there was no lack of self-belief.

"Getting a double hundred at test level is a great feeling for any batsman. It is the first of many to come."