Australian captain Aaron Finch is looking forward to the challenge posed by West Indian batsman Chris Gayle during Thursday’s World Cup fixture between Australia and the West Indies at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Gayle is the highest World Cup run-scorer among those still playing international cricket – and struck a characteristically cavalier half-century in last week’s win over Pakistan. He has also surpassed former South African captain AB de Villiers’ record tally of World Cup sixes.

‘I think when you come up against someone as dangerous as Chris. You have to be prepared, like I said before, that he’s going to hit boundaries,’ said Finch.

‘So, I think it’s important that you come prepared to take the contest to him, because he definitely does that the other way.’

The West Indies succeeded with plenty of short deliveries against Pakistan. Captain Jason Holder has stated they won’t fixate on this tactic – and Finch is prepared to combat bouncers and fuller deliveries alike.

‘I think if you just stick to one plan, then teams get on top of you pretty quickly or they adjust quickly enough,’ he added.

‘I think if you over-attack and continue to go too short, or you continue to go too full, whatever it might be, it’s about your follow-ups from those balls.’

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