By IANS,
Sydney : West Indies captain Chris Gayle feels that his team is no longer in awe of World Champions Australia after giving them a tough fight in the first two Tests of the ongoing series.
“There is no fear. We don’t want to say we fear Australia. And they are not taking us lightly, because they know our capability. They must have known it wasn’t going to be easy in the Caribbean,” Gayle was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.
“To push Australia and get a draw… it’s been 10 years since we have drawn a game against Australia. It’s terrific the way the guys have been playing,” he said.
Gayle, poised to return from a groin injury for the third Test in Barbados this week, says the eighth-ranked West Indians have grown in confidence with the knowledge that, unlike recent seasons, they are more than capable of competing with the world champions.
Gayle said Ricky Ponting’s comments after the drawn second Test that Australia’s bowling attack had “come back to the pack” came as a surprise.
The Caribbean captain agreed Australia needed more from their third seamer and specialist spinner, and issued a challenge to Beau Casson in the process.
“(Ponting) must know why he made that comment but we are not taking anything for granted,” Gayle said.