Chris Gayle: "We played well in Zimbabwe and we are here in South Africa to continue the good work. They will be in for a fight." © Getty Images

The West Indies cricket team arrived in South Africa on Monday evening and Chris Gayle is promising a "fight" in the upcoming series.

Speaking after the team touched down at the OR Tambo Airport, Gayle said that the West Indies were full of confidence and believed they could win when the sides meet in three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 internationals.

"We respect the South Africans but we don't fear them. They are a good team and are playing good cricket at the moment, so we know the challenge at hand. "But we are confident and we believe in our ability. We played well in Zimbabwe and we are here in South Africa to continue the good work. They will be in for a fight."

Gayle hoped to be fit for the first Test against South Africa on December 26. "My injury is coming on very well, hopefully I'll be ready for the first Test, but I need to work with the physio."

He believed that the absence of retired Brian Lara and the injured middle-order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan could serve as motivation for the members of the team to prove their worth.

"Brian is no longer in the team and Sarwan is injured and with this in mind we expect to see some of the younger players taking the opportunity to make a big contribution and possibly make a name for themselves. This is a big series and full of big opportunities."