Marshall needs comfort and mentoring

SATURDAY MAY 31, St. John’s Antigua – West Indies captain Chris Gayle said

that rookie-opening batsman Xavier Marshall who he is mentoring needs comfort

and guidance in order to develop into a successful international cricketer.

Xavier Marshall drives Stuart MacGill - (Brooks La Touche Photography)

“He is a youngster who needs a bit of guidance, I am a role model for him so

what I do is to try and guide him as much as possible. When we play cricket

together I try and pass on as much information to him as possible and show him

along the road,” the injured Gayle exclusively told DigicelCricket.com.

Ironically Marshall found himself in the West Indies final eleven for the Second

Digicel Test against Australia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium because Gayle is

injured and unable to play. Marshall scored 53 with eight stunning fours but fell

late in the day to the left arm spin of Michael Clarke.

Xavier Marshall drives into the off side for more runs - (Brooks La Touche Photography)

“He batted really, really, well. He just came back into Test cricket, and he got a

start that he did not capitalize on. Maybe he was trying to be cautious coming on

to the end,” reasoned Gayle who said he did not say too much to Marshall before

he went out to bat since he did not want to put him under any additional

pressure.

“The only thing I asked for was a big one, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t

want him to go out there and change his game,” Gayle said.

Gayle also said that Marshall is a changed young man who is more focussed and

determined after having disciplinary challenges early in his career. At the end of

the opening day Marshall was lavish in praise for the advice and guidance Gayle,

the senior West Indies opening batsman offered him several months ago.

“He has had difficulties throughout his career, he was out of First Class cricket for

a year and now you can see the determination and the hunger. He is definitely a

different person. He has had issues which the board has dealt with, he needed

comfort to come back into the cricket and make it so far to be back into Test

cricket,” Gayle revealed.

“It’s good to see him back and in a different and better frame of mind and now

he needs to continue and keep his focus,” the 28-year-old left-hander said.

“He will eventually get a bit more mature and I am happy with the progress he is

making, he is the sort of guy who plays the cricket with a passion, you can see

that in how he throws himself around in the  outfield,” the tall and powerful

Jamaican said of his fellow countryman.

Gayle also revealed that Marshall is headstrong but that trait can be a major

advantage in international cricket once he is managed well.

“He is a strong-minded person and he will never back down from any situation or

anyone at all, it is all about how you go about things and manage him and how

you show him how to capitalize in Test cricket,” Gayle reasoned. (COURTESY-:

digicelcricket.com)