Manchester, June 26 -- It was like West Indies skipper Jason Holder was discovering a surprise gift, hearing the news Chris Gayle planned to play on after the World Cup.

Holder's eyes lit up, and he smiled broadly when the subject turned from the must-win World Cup game against India to the prospect of 39-year-old Gayle sticking around to play a series of one-day internationals against India in August and possibly a test match on home soil.

Gayle is a larger-than-life character, and Holder laughed when he reflected Wednesday on the star batsman's latest surprise.

"He didn't really say anything in the dressing room. But, yeah, it's great and it's great for cricket," said Holder, who found out about the retirement backflip from the team'...