The worst pitch I have seen

Chris Gayle

The first day of the third and final Test match against Pakistan at Karachi was a pretty good day for the West Indies. The pitch is horrendous for Test cricket because of the low bounce. It is the worst Test pitch I have ever seen so far in my career because the ball was almost rolling on the very first day of the Test match.

We still have to bat on it though and when our turn comes to bat we won't use that as an excuse. We still have to get the last three Pakistan wickets before our turn at the crease and even though most of our batters and especially the captain are in good nick it will be hard work. Myself and Daren [Ganga] have to adjust to these conditions and we have been having chats about how we are going to approach our partnership.

Both of us missed out on hundreds in the last game and Dwayne Bravo as well, but that's done and gone. It is a new leaf to turn to now. Once we can build partnerships and get a big first innings score on this wicket we can definitely set ourselves up for a victory in order to draw the series. I have to give big credit to the bowlers – Corey Collymore, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell and Bravo – they all bowled well on that low and slow wicket but they know what Test cricket is like.

When we first arrived in Karachi from Multan the team had a little fun trip to a local resort. It was the first time I ever rode a motor bike even though it was a small one. We drove mini race cars, buggies, go karts and rode motor cycles. We also had a go at simulation desert riding on ATVs. The bike riding was fun but I don't plan to ride any again in the near future unless it's on four wheels. That I did enjoy a lot and I think those are the sorts of things we need to have in place whenever we go on tour rather than the routine of just going from the hotel to the ground and back.

That sort of atmosphere can really take your mind away from cricket for a while and make everyone relax. There is a time for serious cricket and there is a time for fun. We are still human and we have to look to enjoy ourselves even though the tour is long and can get depressing we have to hang in there.

Mommy, I'm missing you!