If batsmen can't score, get Sobers, Viv back: Sammy

Gayle is out of the national side for alleging in an interview that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) left him in lurch when he was injured.

West Indies lost the one-off Twenty20 match, the ODI series (2-3) and now have conceded lead in the three-match Test series against India with Gayle on the sidelines.

"That our batsmen haven't been able to seize moments has been happening for 10 years. May be the best thing for us is to bring back Gary Sobers, Viv Richards, Clyde Walcott, all of them!," Sammy said at the post-match press conference when asked if his side can afford the absence of Gayle.

Sammy said there is little to separate the two sides and that he was hopeful of levelling the series when the two teams square up in Barbados for the second Test from June 28.

"I don't think there is much difference between the two sides. It's been a case throughout the home series for us. The games have been coming down fairly close.

"We know we are capable of getting 20 wickets. It's just one area where we need to get clicking. Once we can put good first innings total, and I don't drop Dravid or anybody again, we should not be under pressure to win a match.

"The way the bowlers have bowled, getting India out within 250 in both innings, we stand a good chance of levelling the series provided we bat well," the skipper said.