Mr Cool has the heart for a battle

The man known as much for his all-weather shades and languid demeanour as for his swashbuckling strokeplay allowed Kevin Pietersen to ruffle his well-groomed feathers.

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England's ultra-confident star batsman has a history of bringing out the worst in opponents, but that might not be the only explanation for the banter, barging and bat-waving that spiced up the first npower Test.

These days, Gayle quite literally has the heart for a confrontation and insists there is more to him than meets the eye. Under the surface, a fire rages.

So much West Indian hope is invested in the 27-year-old Jamaican opener now that Brian Lara has ridden off into the sunset, and he stepped up to the mark in the series opener against England.

As well as standing toe-to-toe with Pietersen, he scored 77 runs - finishing unbeaten on 47 as the tourists secured a draw on Monday - and claimed three second-innings wickets with his tidy off-spin.

For spectators at Lord's, the sight of Gayle reacting to a pressure situation by playing cavalier shots would have been no surprise, but the feisty duel with KP may have come as a shock.

Yet he argues that he is prepared to give as good as he gets.

"I find the situation getting out of hand sometimes," he says. "I get pumped up, then a bit of sledging might come into play. But this is not a schoolboy game, there are big men playing and it has to be intense."

Last October, he had similar exchanges with Michael Clarke as the West Indies beat Australia in a Champions Trophy pool match in Mumbai.

It had been the work of doctors Down Under that played a part in releasing the beast within, as Gayle's composure had been partly dictated by a heart condition.

"A couple of years ago I had heart surgery in Australia," he said. "If I got stressed or too tired, my heart would start to race. I would have to slow myself down and be as calm as possible. But the surgery sorted it out and I haven't been affected by it since."

Whether or not it was all down to a heart flaw, Gayle has long been a relaxed individual - but the image does not always serve him well. Fans and critics alike frequently accuse him of a lack of desire or endeavour. He pours scorn on the notion.

"I think my body language gives people the wrong impression," he said. "Some people take it negatively but I am the type of guy who is really laid back, easygoing, moody. I try not to let things worry me because that affects your game.

"So when I'm on the field I try to stay as calm as possible. I might not be energetic or flamboyant, but I am still really focused. A lot of people think I am trying to act cool all the time but that's just me."

Gayle's biggest challenge is not to prove that he cares, but to achieve greater consistency in Test cricket.

He scored a colossal 317 against South Africa in Antigua in 2005, but his average of 39 after 65 matches does not truly reflect his class. A total of just seven Test centuries betokens an unfulfilled talent who has never broken into the world's top 20 in the longer form of the game, despite rising to No 1 in the one- day rankings three years ago.

Yet, across the Caribbean, Gayle is seen by people as a force of nature at the crease. He understands the adulation, but knows it places a burden on his shoulders.

"A lot of people expect big things from me but recently I haven't really produced the goods so then people come down hard on you," he said. "But the fans seem to like watching Chris Gayle on the go.

"I think I play cricket the way that West Indian people like it to be played. I'm a big hitter and I try to go out there and impose myself. It isn't a plan, it is just instinct. If the ball is in the slot I will put it away."

Before England played the West Indies in Jamaica three years ago, a Kingston policeman told everyone he could find: "King Lara's gonna get you. Gayle force wind will blow you away."

Well, the king has gone, but there is still a storm brewing.