Fitness worries for Gayle ahead of first Test

'I'll weep if I can't play in the first Test', said a frustrated Gayle © Imran Khan

West Indies face the prospect of going into the first Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth on Boxing Day without the services of their captain Chris Gayle, who's yet to recover from the hamstring injury he picked up during the recent tour of Zimbabwe. Gayle admitted his frustrations at having to sit out of the three-day tour game against South Africa A in East London, but also cautioned against making a hasty return.

"I'll weep if I can't play in the first Test," Gayle told Supercricket. "I'm finding it very frustrating to see the boys play while I have to sit here in the dressing room. I'm not the kind of guy that wants to see others play while I sit out. It's frustrating me endlessly.

"However difficult it may be, I just have to try and be patient. If I play too soon and it hasn't quite healed, I can only do more harm than good and then I'll probably be out of the rest of the tour."

Gayle's rehabilitation has progressed slowly, and he isn't in a position yet to run or jog. His movements have been restricted to walking around the field, and Jacqui Mowatt, the team's fitness specialist, said it was difficult to say at this stage if he would recover in time for the Test which starts on Wednesday.

"At this stage I really cannot say whether Chris will be able to play in the first Test," Mowatt said. "We'll just have to wait and see. It is not an injury with which we can take any risks."

Dwayne Bravo has been leading the team in Gayle's absence since the third ODI against Zimbabwe at Harare earlier this month. He led West Indies to a 3-1 series victory and a five-wicket win in the first Twenty20 international against South Africa at Port Elizabeth on December 16.