Cricket World Cup: Gayle a force to be reckoned with

Chris Gayle has scored 9000 one-day international runs and notched up 22 centuries. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Windies veteran cool customer who can still set a game alight.

He's a self-appointed "world boss".

With a penchant for parties, smashing sixes, wearing sunglasses while bowling and generally doing whatever he pleases, Chris Gayle is a cool customer.

At 35, he is on the downward curve of his career but the esteem he is held in around the cricketing world has been exemplified this week.

Every West Indies press conference has focused on the state of Gayle's ailing back and you could be forgiven if you thought today's World Cup quarter-final in Wellington was scheduled to be New Zealand against Gayle and 10 random blokes.

When Gayle delivers, the results are devastating.

He's made more than 9000 one-day international runs, scored 22 centuries and in pool play last month he racked up 215 against a hapless Zimbabwe.

His Twitter bio reads: World Boss/'Chris Lion'. How does one even ascend to the status of being a world boss?

Having being laboured during the week, he wrapped his bandanna on to keep his dreadlocks in check under his helmet and let his arms loose in the nets in Wellington yesterday.

INTERACTIVE: Who is the best one day cricketer?

Gayle warmed up by hammering a collection of off-drives in front of the cameras and he smashed a picket in the fence that surrounds the Basin Reserve.

He has an exceptional eye, which allows him to strike the ball with ferocious power, and there is little feet movement. He doesn't need it.

Watching through the chain link enclosure of the nets - like you would admire a lazy lion snoozing in the sun - you could see Gayle's back was troubling him.

There were few rapid movements and the West Indies have said they would give him until the last minute to decide if he would play today.

You can expect the lion to roar and Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum, who has played with Gayle and against him for the past decade, said he shaped as a key figure in the game.

"He's a great character, the game is richer for his involvement and we've seen some of the hands he's played over the years. He's a guy that international cricket is lucky to have," McCullum said.

While the West Indies have had to answer a stream of questions about Gayle's health, the New Zealanders have been at pains to point out that their opponents are a collection of talented individuals.

"We aren't just focusing on Chris, they've got many players in the line-up who can play a match-winning innings with the bat and have destructive spells with the ball," McCullum said.

"We've got to respect the entire team they put out. If we execute our gameplan it will make us very tough to beat."

For all the talk, New Zealand know that Gayle is the man they need to target today.

The left-hander could swing the game in favour of the West Indies if he plays one of his trademark knocks.

"We just hope that he can perform the way he's been known to perform over the years and we get the best of him," West Indies captain Jason Holder said.