Brian Lara bats for Chris Gayle

West Indies batting icon Brian Lara has endorsed the choice of Chris Gayle as Captain of the West Indies team and has urged the region to support the embattled Jamaican.



Lara, the record holder for the highest Test and first class scores, said regardless of all the recent controversies, everyone should unite behind Gayle because the team is heading into a difficult series against Australia.



Gayle was reappointed to the post last week, despite his modest record and his involvement in the bitter contracts dispute, which saw the depletion of the Windies team for the Bangladesh series and the Champions Trophy.



West Indies departed last night for Australia where they will play Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.