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| Gayle (left) was bowled by Bolt at an exhibition match in Jamaica [AFP] |
Chris Gayle is keen to resume his captaincy of the West Indies after the first team squad and the cricket board patched up their differences.
The West Indies side has been made up of second-string cricketers since the first XI boycotted a home series against Bangladesh in July.
Barbadian Floyd Reifer, 37, stepped into the breach as skipper as the makeshift party lost a Test and one-day series against the Bangladeshis and, unsurprisingly, crashed at the ICC Champions Trophy.
Reifer and his teammates may feel they are owed a debt of loyalty, but reality means Gayle and the rest of the West Indies elite should be reinstated against Australia next month.
'An honour'
"If I am asked to do the job I will be committed. It is always honour to captain the West Indies," opening batsman Gayle said.
"I am always committed to do it.
"Support-wise the players have been really good and it shouldn't be a problem. Once I am asked to do it then, definitely."
The 30-year-old hard-hitting left-hander captained West Indies to a 1-0 series win over England in the Caribbean earlier this year and looked well settled in the role.
Gayle's return to the role he first took on in 2007, however, has been questioned by new West Indies Cricket Board chief executive Ernest Hilaire.
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"Once I step across the line I am 100 per cent committed – it doesn't matter what kind of cricket we play"
West Indies batsman Chris Gayle
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Hilaire suggested last month the selectors would be wise to ask Gayle to clarify his future given his comments during their tour of England in May when he said he did not see a long future for himself in Test cricket and preferred the Twenty20 format.
He also said he was looking forward to a break from the pressures of captaincy.
Gayle may be a bit rusty, having found himself bowled out by sprinter Usain Bolt in an exhibition match in Jamaica this week.
But, having had time off during the dispute, he is willing to take on the responsibility again and no longer interested in discussions about his preferences for different formats of the game.
"I am committed to whatever cricket I play. Once I step across the line I am 100 per cent committed – it doesn't matter what kind of cricket we play," Gayle said.
Bravo backing
Significantly Gayle's comments come after he received the backing of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, an influential dressing room figure.
"I am happy with Chris as West Indies captain. He has done a fantastic job and all the guys have a lot of respect for him," Bravo said recently.
Gayle said the strike and series defeat to Bangladesh was a "heartbreaking situation" but he is hopeful that last week's agreement between the players' union and the board will allow for a fresh start.
"I'm happy agreements have been reached but at the same time, hopefully things will be better for our infrastructure so that we can work as one unit and leave the controversy behind, put it to one side and go out and enjoy the game.
"I think it will happen. Let's keep our fingers crossed, everyone is looking to work together."
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