Chris Gayle is finding life in Zimbabwe far different the second time round.
And West Indies coach Gus Logie is satisfied that the tall, lefthanded opener's struggles that contrast sharply with his run-fest on the 1999 tour are more mental that technical.
"I've had a few chats with Chris about it and I believe it's simply a lack of confidence," Logie said yesterday.
"There are a few things we spoke about that he can work on but nothing too technical," he added. "It's just a matter of him getting back the conviction to play his own way, the positive way, the way that has brought him success, the way he batted when he did so well here last time."
Two years ago, Gayle compiled his first Test hundred, 175, in the first of the two Tests at the Queen's Sports Club here; amassed his highest firstclass score, 259 not out, against Zimbabwe `A' and averaged 139.83 in five firstclass matches. Such abundance has changed to acute scarcity in the past three weeks.
He scored 37 runs in his two innings in the three-day opening match against Zimbabwe `A' and managed only 74 in the two Tests at an average of 18.50. His latest failure came in the one-day match against Zimbabwe `A' in the small central town of Kwekwe on Wednesday when he was out for one.
Instead of his natural inclination to dominate the bowling from the start, Gayle has been unusually tentative. In his seven innings, he has been lbw three times, twice defending against Heath Streak's swing, and caught behind three times, twice off the faster bowlers.
"It may be that Chris has seen how quickly Wavell Hinds [his opening partner] is scoring and decided to play a more supporting role," was one theory advanced by Logie. But, he added, Gayle should remain true to himself and his method.
He has five one-day internationals, starting with backto-back matches tomorrow and Sunday, to regain the selfbelief and form that make him, on his day, as devastating an opening batsman as there is around.
It is essential that he does this in time for the demanding series of four Tests that immediately follow in South Africa.
While Hinds, Daren Ganga and, for the four home Tests against Australia last season, Devon Smith have been alternated, Gayle has been the settled opener for all but two of their last 27 Tests.
Those two were against Australia last season when the selectors were upset by his preference for the international double-wicket tournament in St. Lucia over the Carib Beer International Shield final for Jamaica.
For different reasons, there is also some concern over Gayle's fellow Jamaican Jerome Taylor.
The 19-year-old fast bowler was eliminated after 9.4 overs on the first day of the first Test by a `facet joint sprain' of the lower back but was passed fit enough to resume training five days later by local sports medicine specialist, Dr Austin Jeans.
Taylor has had limited bowling in the nets since and was not included in the team for Wednesday's match in Kwekwe.
Manager Ricky Skerritt said the team management was ex-pecting a report from physiotherapist Sunit Liebenberg on the situation at a meeting last night.
"I don't think Jerome has had an injury such as this before and, even though he's got the all clear from the specialist, he's possibly just a little apprehensive about it," he said. "I'm sure he'll be soon back."
Skerritt said Fidel Edwards has recovered from the left ankle injury that put him out of the second Test and is "anxious to get back bowling."
But, he added, he would be held back for a while longer, as a precaution, because there was a long South African tour ahead.