NEW coach Ottis Gibson is hoping the return of captain Chris Gayle will inspire West Indies to victory in the oneday international series against Zimbabwe.

Gayle has rejoined the squad after taking compassionate leave to visit his ill mother in Jamaica, and will lead the side out when the first of five ODIs gets under way at the Guyana National Stadium today.

“He is an inspiration to the guys,” said former Durham bowler Gibson. “He gives them a lift as if they are on cloud nine.

“The guys understand how they need to play in certain situations, and what we have practised. I must say, judging from how they look, I am impressed with the way things have been going so far in preparation for the game.”

Narsingh Deonarine, the left-handed batsman and offspin bowler, has been recalled along with left-arm spinner Nikita Miller. Both missed Sunday’s Twenty20 international defeat but were part of the recent 4-0 ODI series loss in Australia.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sulieman Benn and Adrian Barath have also been included in the Windies’ 14- man squad after missing the ODI leg of the tour Down Under, but Ramnaresh Sarwan (back) and Dwayne Bravo (thumb) remain sidelined – for the opener at least.

The tourists won an extraordinary Twenty20 clash at Port of Spain by 26 runs on Sunday as the Windies, chasing only 106, were limited to 79 for seven.

Darren Sammy and Benn had produced the third and fourth best bowling figures in T20 internationals as the visitors were bowled out for 105.

But Elton Chigumbura crashed an ultimately crucial 34 from 19 balls late on to give Zimbabwe a slim hope and they responded with 18 overs of uninterrupted spin to leave the Windies 66 for seven and unable to get close.

Gibson knows the passionate West Indies supporters will be expecting a marked improvement in the ODI series.

“We do feel disappointed that we lost the game,” he said.

“Zimbabwe exploited the conditions in the pitch more than we, and now our fans expect us to go hard at them.”

In contrast, Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya was thrilled with his side’s triumph at the weekend, and has urged the tourists to continue in the same vein today.

He said: “We are trying not to be over-confident going into the game.”