Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Chris Gayle - file

On the eve of Jamaica's departure for the first two matches in the Carib Beer Series and KFC Cup one-day tournament, senior opening batsman Chris Gayle issued a warning to the members of his team.

Gayle said each individual needs to his game if the team is to regain the Carib Beer title they won in 2005 and the KFC Cup they haven't won in seven years.

"I think we have to produce," Gayle told The Gleaner after Saturday's presentation of colours to the national team at Melbourne Oval.

Jamaica will open against the Leeward Islands in St. Kitts on January 4, before travelling to the Windward Islands for matches against that country the following week.

"Each and every individual has to go out there and try to build (innings), play as a unit and try and contribute whatever they can for the team to try and regain this championship," he added.

The left-handed West Indies opening batsman is very much aware of Jamaica's poor performance last year in the Carib Beer league competition and the fact that the team has not won the one-day since beating the Leeward Islands in 1999.

Gayle, the MVP of the ICC Champions Trophy, believes with both competitions running concurrently this season, it could be a blessing in disguise.

"It is up to us to capitalise on this sort of cricket," said the man who has scored 4,259 runs in 64 Test matches.

"We haven't done well over the last few years, so we have a lot of things to play for, a lot of pride and not only pride, but we want to win the cups as well. we are the best team on paper," added Gayle, who has seven Test centuries to his credit.

To regain titles

In order to regain these titles, especially the one-dayers, he said: "We are going to have to look into ourselves and ask ourselves what it is it all about? how are we going to readjust to the one-day format of the game?"

He, however, believes, that "once we plan well. There is no doubt why should not win".

Gayle also spoke briefly about his 2006 international season, which at one stage saw him rising to the top of the world one-day all-rounder's position.

"It was a bit of up and down. I think in the one-day arena I started the year badly, but picked up gradually. I got a few centuries in the ICC tournament, which was good.

"We did not play a lot of Test cricket but having said that, we played three Test matches in Pakistan - which was another experience, playing in Pakistan." He said he is looking forward to this season, especially Jamaica's first two away matches, which will be his only outing for Jamaica this season as he will have to do duties for the West Indies team afterwards.