Jayawardene, aiming to break his team’s losing sequence in three finals in major events, played down Gayle’s importance in the match, saying his team never planned for just one individual. “We have never gone after individuals,” Jayawardene told a media conference on Saturday. “Gayle is just another player in a very good West Indies side. But we plan and analyse for a team, not individuals.

Chris Gayle hits a six against Australia in Colombo on Friday. Pic/Getty Images.