West Indies batting star Chris Gayle has warned about taking the cricketing ambitions of Jamaican compatriot Usain Bolt seriously, claiming the athlete is capable of delivering a mean spell of bowling.

"He wouldn't embarrass himself. In a charity game, he actually played against me and almost knocked my head off with a good competitive bouncer," Gayle told international news agency Reuters as the West Indies continue participation in the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Bolt has often expressed an interest in taking part in the sport at the highest level and has been invited to take in the Australian Big Bash League by Australian bowling great Shane Warne. While many have expressed some level of pessimism at the six-time Olympic gold medal winner's chances at success on the pitch, Gayle does not believe Bolt's cricket talent is anything to scoff at.

"It is nothing to take lightly. I don't see anything wrong," added former West Indies captain Gayle, who is currently one of the world's top-ranked batsmen.

Bolt and Gayle have faced each other in charity matches held by the West Indies star. Two years ago, Bolt with a crowd of 6,000 firmly behind him actually bowled Gayle.