Port-of_Spain, Trinidad -- April 10, 2008 -- West Indies captain Chris Gayle says that he is enjoying working with John Dyson, the recently appointed head coach of the West Indies team and that the team unit is gelling nicely and discussing matters in an open manner.
"I enjoy working with him (Dyson) it is a bit of fun as well, sometimes you do get a chance to laugh," Gayle told journalists at the pre series media conference at the Queen's Park Oval.
" It has been a good run so far, communication-wise it's very good, we discuss things before they happen so that's very good," Gayle said at the press conference before the start of the Digicel One Day Series against Sri Lanka.
The West Indies captain who was appointed for the Sri Lanka leg of the Digicel Home Series 2008 also said that there will not be overnight changes.
"We've been a bit below standard so we're trying to improve, it's not going to come overnight, we have to build gradually and capitalize on whatever start we can get," said the 28 year old left handed opener who captained his side to victory in two Test matches recently, firstly over South Africa then against Sri Lanka. He has a 50% record as captain, winning two Tests and losing the other two.
Gayle pointed out that he does not come to the job with a great amount of experience at the regional level but that he thinks that communication is a critical element for success as a leader.
"I am new to it (captaincy), with a bit of experience in local cricket (in Jamaica), it's a situation where you have to be strong with what you do and make sure you come up with the right plan, communication as a leader is very important and how well you know your players," he reasoned.
"You (have to) know how to approach a player and how to get the best out of a player," Gayle reasoned, saying that he is pleased with the progress the team has been making during recent series.
"I've seen a lot of improvement, I've seen guys talking a bit more which never used to happen, guys open up now and you can actually discuss cricket and they can discuss whatever matter they have which is very good and which we haven't seen in the past," Gayle revealed.
The First Digicel ODI will be played at the Queen's Park Oval on Thursday April 10th, the Second Digicel ODI on April 12th at the same venue and the Third Digicel ODI on April 15th at the Beausejour Cricket Ground in St Lucia.
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