New Windies skipper Sammy expects Gayle's support after team shakeup

Sydney, Oct 21(ANI): West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has said that he expects support from his predecessor Chris Gayle despite his differences with the cricket board.

Sammy was given the captaincy after Gayle and vice-captain Dwayne Bravo chose against signing central contracts with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

"Ever since I started my career in 2004, Chris has been the one who has made me feel comfortable. I have a good relationship and I see no reason why it shouldn't continue," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Sammy, as saying.

He will lead a 15-man West Indies squad on a three-Test tour in Sri Lanka starting next month.

Gayle and Bravo, along with Kieron Pollard, have rejected contracts seemingly because of a desire to have greater freedom to play in various countries' domestic Twenty20 competitions, including the Big Bash and the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The selectors decided that it was important to have a captain who wanted to make that commitment, and placed Sammy and Brendan Nash in charge of the Test squad until the end of 2011.

Gayle and Pollard are contracted to Western Australia and South Australia respectively, while Bravo is believed to be keen on playing for Victoria again. (ANI)