Watch out Ricky, that is West Indies captain Chris Gayle's warning to his Australian counterpart.
"Watch out Ricky," that is West Indies captain Chris Gayle's warning to his Australian counterpart.
Having led his demoralised team to redemption in the Adelaide Test after their shellacking at Brisbane, rejuvenated West Indies captain Gayle has thrown down the gauntlet.
In his newspaper column this morning, Gayle says young Kemar Roach, who has impressed pundits with his pace and hostility, has Ponting's measure and is eagerly waiting for the chance to add the rival captain's name to his impressive list of scalps.
Gayle expresses satisfaction with the way his young team performed in the second Test, which Australia barely managed to draw, thanks to a valiant late effort by vice-captain Michael Clarke and wicket keeper-batsman Brad Haddin.
"Everyone was criticising us but it was a tremendous effort from every single one of our players at Adelaide," Gayle writes.
"Just about all aspects of our batting, bowling and fielding were how I wanted them to be.
"We stayed in front of the Aussies from the start of the Test and now I want to make sure this is not just a one-off but it turns into something even bigger and better in Perth.
"Our young paceman Kemar Roach will create a lot of problems and be a huge handful with his pace for the Aussies on the bouncy pitch in Perth. I think we will see something extraordinary from him.
"Trust me Kemar has some serious "wheels". I really don't like facing him in the nets; usually I have to tell him to slow things down so I can actually see the ball!
"He is very quick and very slippery. He bowled at 150km/h in Adelaide, even late in spells when he should have been getting a bit tired.
"I'm no expert on pace but I think he can go a lot quicker.
"Kemar is getting better and more confident by the minute and he gets a chance to rest now, put his feet up and come back and really unleash some fury in Perth.
"Ricky Ponting is a top class and experienced player but Kemar really ruffled him and hustle him with sheer pace in Adelaide.
"Kemar won't back down against Ricky in Perth and ask even more questions of the Aussie captain on a pitch which I hear should be very quick and bouncy.
"I know Ricky is a strong character but so is Kemar and I know how he is bursting out of his skin to fire up in Perth. Watch out Ricky."
