By IANS,
Melbourne : West Indies captain Chris Gayle has courageously announced that the on-field bullying tactics of controversial Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds will not rattle his team.
Symonds is rarely far away when trouble explodes on the pitch. He is never shy of getting involved in heated on-field confrontations.
Symonds had West Indian blood boiling in Antigua when he was embroiled in a fiery exchange with fast bowler Fidel Edwards, when umpires were forced to step in.
Gayle has warned Symonds he could expect his verbal fireworks to be returned.
“A few words were shared around the last game. He (Symonds) is that sort of player, he’s always into things. It’s his style of playing cricket. If they exchange words, why not exchange a few back?” Gayle was quoted as saying Friday in the Courier Mail.
“We just have to cope with it. As long as it’s not getting over the limit, the guys can handle it,” Gayle said.
Symonds has become a character who polarises Australian fans, who either love him or loathe him. His latest disciplinary misdemeanour came in the lead-up to the Barbados Test when he slept on and missed the team bus to training.
Symonds was fined $3,000 and given a stern reminder about his responsibilities by the Australian team management.