Summary Chris Gayle will be key as West Indies face New Zealand in World Cup quarter-final today (Saturday).
WELLINGTON (AFP) - Chris Gayle will be key to Saturday s World Cup quarter-final clash as the West Indies face undefeated New Zealand with South Africa waiting for them in the semi-finals.
Gayle trained for the first time this week on Friday morning, batting in the nets two days after receiving an injection in his lower back.
The injury forced him out of the West Indies six-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates last Sunday, when they squeezed into the final on run-rate ahead of Ireland.
Gayle, 35, scored the only double century in World Cup history with 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra and is seen as crucial to the West Indies chances of progressing into the last four.
He certainly had no problems with his power when, during a gentle pre-match training session at Wellington s Basin Reserve, he demolished a section of a white picket fence.
"I m hitting it sweet, man," the big, left-handed Jamaican told a New Zealand TV crew.
Captain Jason Holder said Gayle would face a late fitness test for the game at the Westpac Stadium.
"He s had an injection and a scan. The scan didn t show anything major, so we ll just see how he pulls up and make a decision tomorrow morning," the skipper said.
But Holder insisted his team could win even without Gayle, pointing to the impressive 55 scored by Johnson Charles when he stepped in against the UAE.
"Obviously, (Gayle) has been a very good player for us over the years but we ve shown we ve got people to fit the bill," he said.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum believes he s backing a winning horse with his all-out attack approach to Saturday s game.
"We need to go out and play that attacking brand of cricket we have exhibited throughout," said McCullum, whose team won all six of their pool games, all played in New Zealand.
West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy has likened his side s underdog status to that of boxer Buster Douglas who in 1990, as a 42-1 outsider, knocked out then undefeated heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson.
It was a metaphor that amused McCullum, who fired back with one of his own when questioned whether he would adopt a more conservative stance should the West Indies start strongly.
"In horse racing parlance, I m a big horse racing fan, if we miss the start, it doesn t mean that we re out of the race.
"I think the horse has never been better and we ve got every chance in this game to be able to go out there and win, even if things aren t 100 percent."
McCullum s bold approach in the field, setting attacking fields for his bowlers has put Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Dan Vettori among the World Cup s top wicket-takers.
Vettori s 3.18 economy rate and Boult s 11 maidens are the best of any bowler in the tournament.
Although the New Zealand team will not be finalised until after a pitch inspection, McCullum said it would likely be the same XI who played the first five pool games.
That would mean the return of fast bowler Adam Milne, who missed the final pool match against Bangladesh because of a shoulder injury.
