West Indies lead the five-Test series 1-0, following an innings and 23-run victory in the opening Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica, the abandonment of the second Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua, and a draw in the third Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground.

“There are no doubts or fears in our minds,” Gayle told reporters on the eve of the Test, starting today at Kensington Oval.

“We really think we can pull this thing off. We learnt a lot from a similar situation we had in South Africa – although that was slightly different because we injuries to some key players, and we did not always have our full-strength team.

“This time, we have our full strength team, and we definitely have a good chance of winning the series.”

But West Indies have not beaten a side ranked higher than them in the World rankings for the last six years, and Gayle admitted that his side has to show up and make an early statement.

“We are not accustomed to playing from this position in the last few years, but it is an opportunity for us, and we must try very hard not to give in to England as much as possible, and take it session by session,” he said.

“We have to hit the ground running. In the last game, we were admittedly a bit flat over the first four days. You saw it in our bowlers, and I even dropped a few catches as well.

“But we know the importance of this game. England are looking to square the series, so we will have to put up a good fight, and if we can do it, the outcome of this game can determine the series as well.”

Gayle acknowledged that the change of venue from the VRCG to the ARG in Antigua had affected the team’s mental approach to the previous Test, but he felt strongly that they had rebounded.

“We had the momentum after the first Test, but that changed following the disaster at the VRCG, and the change of venue kind of put us on the back-foot, so it was a disadvantage for us,” he said.

“So we actually had to get that mindset going again, and we came out with a draw, and we are still leading in the series, so it is for us to look past those two games, and look to come up trumps.”

Should West Indies win the Test and take an unbeatable lead in the series, Gayle thinks that it would definitely spell that his side has definitely turned the corner on their catastrophic slide from grace over the last decade.

“We still have to get through these last two Tests, but it would be a tremendous thing for us, and the entire Caribbean,” he said. “So we know the fans are actually looking forward to this. Playing against England is always a big thing. . .

“What has helped us is that we have all begun to understand each other better now, and when to do certain things, and when not to do them.

“The awareness is really, really good, and I am really happy with this. Like I said, the unit has been really good that’s why we do not want to chop and change so much, so that we can continue to build the relationships.”

For England though, they have are going to be forced to make a few changes, following a hip injury to leading all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, and wicketkeeper Matt Prior’s decision to take paternity leave after the birth of his first child.

This leaves a couple huge holes in England’s line-up, but they have already solved one of the dilemmas with Tim Ambrose already confirmed to replace Prior behind the stumps.

But there is still some indecision about what to do about Flintoff’s vacancy – whether to play an extra batsman or an extra bowler.

The last seven Tests at a ground affectionately referred to as the Mecca of West Indies cricket, have all produced results.

West Indies have lost five of them though, but they are confident that they can end that spell.

Squads:
WEST INDIES (from): Chris Gayle (captain), Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Ryan Hinds, Brendan Nash, Daren Powell, Denesh Ramdin, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Lendl Simmons, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

ENGLAND (from): Andrew Strauss (captain), Alastair Cook (vice captain), Tim Ambrose, James Anderson, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Paul Collingwood, Steve Harmison, Amjad Khan, Monty Panesar, Kevin Pietersen, Adil Rashid, Owais Shah, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann.

UMPIRES: Aleem Dar, Russell Tiffin, TV Replays: Daryl Harper, Reserve: Clyde Duncan.
MATCH REFEREE: Alan Hurst.