Gayle willing to risk finger injury

Chris Gayle, the Stanford Superstars captain, is confident of taking the field for the match against Middlesex on Thursday despite carrying a finger injury. Gayle, who missed the opening game against Trinidad and Tobago due to family reasons, suffered the injury on Tuesday at the nets.

"I'll be ready. Even if it's broken, I'll be ready," Gayle said. "I've played for West Indies with a broken thumb, a pulled hamstring. If I'm playing for anyone at a particular time, and it's (dependent) on me, I'll be ready for that moment. I've come through and batted for West Indies with the same (broken) finger that I have taped up now."

However, his confidence wasn't shared by his coach Eldine Baptiste, who wasn't ready to risk any unfit players ahead of the awaited US$ 20 million clash between the Superstars and England on Saturday.

"If I have to (drop Gayle), yes," Baptiste said. "It's not individuals, it's team."

Gayle said he had to miss the first game to attend to his ailing father and brother in Jamaica. Sylvester Joseph took over the captaincy in his absence.

"My dad was really sick and it could have been life-threatening, and then I got another phone call because my brother has a heart condition," Gayle said. "I needed that time to be by myself.

"Family is very important. Things are progressing now and hopefully my brother will get through it. He would definitely want me to play the game but you have to get your mind right to go out there and produce."