LONDON, England (CMC)

West Indies skipper Chris Gayle said yesterday he was unaffected by his extended stint in the Indian Premier League and was up for the first Test against England starting today.

The talismanic opener returned from South Africa on Monday, a mere 48 hours before the Lord's Test after playing an extra match for his Kolkata Knight Riders.

"I feel fresh. I'm looking young again, I'm good and ready to go," said the Jamaican, whose late return caused consternation among the West Indies team management this week.

"I was due to come on May 3 but we had a game that day, so I got permission. It wasn't a big gap.

"We are all different and it's about who can adapt as quickly as possible and be ready physically and mentally."

opening match

Both team manager Omar Khan and head coach John Dyson expressed concern about the move, noting it would not be ideal preparation for the opening match.

Gayle had already missed all three warm-up matches and has played only Twenty20 cricket in the build-up to the two-Test series which will see the Windies defending the Wisden Trophy they captured last month in the Caribbean.

The 29-year-old Gayle said all parties had known of the scenario in advance and suggested that room be created for players to contest the glitzy multimillion-dollar IPL.

"We all knew the situation. We discussed the situation with the board (West Indies Cricket Board). Everyone knew this would happen," he pointed out.

"Maybe there should be a window (in the international schedule) for the IPL when all players should be available, so everybody can get the chance to play against the best, like the World Cup."

Gayle led West Indies to a 1-0 win in the recent five-match Test series, their first capture of the Wisden Trophy in 10 years.