Windies a match for Bristol - Bracewell

John Bracewell surveys Bristol as Gloucestershire coach. Last summer he presided over a New Zealand victory there

Gloucestershire director of cricket John Bracewell believes Chris Gayle leads a West Indies with renewed purpose into the forthcoming NatWest Series.

The Windies head to Bristol for the second of three one-day internationals on May 24, and Bracewell has noticed a newfound unity and discipline with the laid-back Jamaican at the helm.

“The West Indies are a vastly improved team and quite simply they have improved through Chris Gayle’s leadership,” said the former New Zealand coach.

“They have finally found a leader in Chris Gayle who lacks ego and I think the players have responded tremendously well to him.

“That has allowed Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul to go about their business of just getting runs.

“Gayle has those charismatic leadership qualities that are required in a fractured environment, which the West Indies is because they all come together from different islands to form the side.

“Their best leaders have always been their most charismatic, not their most ego-driven.”

Bracewell returned to Nevil Road with an emphasis on developing the south-west’s young players, and in Gayle he notices an unflappable presence that rubs off on West Indies’ younger players.

“I don’t know Gayle as a person, but I watch him on the field and I like the way he isn’t ruffled by any situation. He doesn’t give away much with his expressions so his younger players don’t necessarily know if he is happy or angry.

“It is allowing their young players to grow in confidence. The egos of their leaders in the past have interrupted the progress of their youth.

West Indies captain Chris Gayle has entertainment and coolness in abundance, according to Bracewell

“That means they just go and play. I’ve noticed these younger players getting more and more confident, while his two senior batsmen are both getting plenty of runs.”

Despite all this, Bracewell maintains that England remain favourites to beat the tourists at the County Ground.

“I wouldn’t make them favourites to beat England at Bristol. In terms of one-day cricket, I think the England side has untapped potential.

“They have a lot of ability and the day that they put it all together as a unit and understand what that achieves they will be a world force.

“I think the England team need to be ego-free and understand that it is the sum total of the parts that leads to winning matches if they are to be successful.

Bracewell was coaching the tourists when an international side last visited Bristol. His Black Caps won a low-scoring match by 22 runs on their way to a 3-1 series win over the hosts.

Now Bracewell will be an interested observer in his role at Gloucestershire.

“It’s tremendous for Gloucestershire to have our ground as an international stage because TV coverage goes all around the world. That is great for Bristol and the club because we are recognised as a place for international cricket.

“If I were a paying spectator for the match against West Indies I would be looking forward particularly to seeing Chris Gayle bat. I just love the way he goes about his business and if he gets going he is worth the entrance fee alone.

“New Zealand really enjoyed the environment of the ground last year when we played here against England. The players liked the intimacy of it and the nature of the people who were watching the game. We also enjoyed it because we won!”