'Bruised' Hauritz itching to get even with 'brutal' Gayle

Sydney, Feb 11 : Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz, who was smashed around the WACA by West Indies captain Chris Gayle in the Perth Test in December, believes that he will get another chance before the summer is out against the West Indiaes captain in the three remaining matches of the one-day series.

Pacer Doug Bollinger has dismissed Gayle cheaply in the first two fixtures, meaning Hauritz hasn’t had the opportunity to seek revenge.

But the former Queensland bowler said Gayle will overcome his run of early dismissals, and is expecting a return to form at the SCG on Friday, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Gayle, who during the Test series, said facing Hauritz was “like I’m facing up to myself,” punished Hauritz on his way to an explosive 102 off just 72 balls in the third Test at the WACA.

Despite being treated with contempt on and off the field by Gayle, Hauritz said he’s looking forward to the challenge of bowling to one of the game’s great hitters.

“Definitely, he only just had the better of me in the Test series. He’s a fantastic player and if he gets going I’m sure there will be an opportunity for me to bowl to him in the one-day series,” Hauritz said.

“It will definitely be a challenge, I don’t know if I’ll enjoy it, but it will definitely be there. As an off-spinner, if you don’t spin the ball the other way, you can be easy prey...that’s just one of those challenges you face. It can be tough at times but you don’t play cricket to be in the easy times,” he added.

Hauritz is keen to make his mark in the one-day series, but said he had no plans to bowl any differently to Gayle.