Gayle happy to resume captaincy

Chris Gayle has declared himself willing to captain West Indies when the full-strength team returns following the dispute between the players and the board. The best players are expected to be available to tour Australia next month and, if offered the role by the WICB, Gayle will be the captain.

"If I am asked to do the job I will be committed," Gayle told Reuters. "It is always honour to captain the West Indies. I am always committed to do it. Support-wise the players have been really good and it shouldn't be a problem. Once I am asked to do it then, definitely."

Gayle has led the side since 2007 but said in May that he wasn't intending to remain in the job in the long term and would also consider giving up Test cricket in the near future. His comments frustrated the WICB's new chief executive Ernest Hilaire, who said last month that Gayle's future as the captain was not guaranteed, but after several months off due to the player strike Gayle is simply keen to return to any form of cricket.

"I am committed to whatever cricket I play," he said. "Once I step across the line I am 100% committed. It doesn't matter what kind of cricket we play."

Gayle had little to do during the strike but watch on as Floyd Reifer was brought in to captain a weak West Indies side that lost to Bangladesh and then struggled at the Champions Trophy. He said it was heartbreaking but was hopeful that the situation would improve and a full-strength squad would head to Australia for three Tests starting in November.

"I'm happy agreements have been reached but at the same time, hopefully things will be better for our infrastructure so that we can work as one unit and leave the controversy behind, put it to one side and go out and enjoy the game," Gayle said. "I think it will happen. Let's keep our fingers crossed, everyone is looking to work together."