West Indies skipper Chris Gayle has admitted he feels under immense pressure to perform with the bat.

Gayle said he feels the pressure to perform with the bat to ensure his side claw back a degree of respectability in the one-day series with Australia.

The Windies are 2-0 down in the best-of-five series following massive losses in Melbourne and Adelaide - Gayle out cheaply in both matches for seven and nought respectively.

Chris Gayle keeps the faith

There is now damning evidence suggesting if Gayle doesn't fire at the top of the order, games are as good as over as the disciplined Australian bowling attack goes about dismantling the rest of the batting line-up.

It's the closest thing to a one-man team you are going to get in international cricket and Gayle was not backing away from the problem ahead of Friday's third one-dayer at the SCG.

Asked if the pressure to perform was getting to him, the normally laid back Gayle conceded: "I'd be lying if I said no. There is a bit of pressure to be honest but at the same time I can manage it.

"This is part of the package. I can't run from it or hide from it, I have to face up to it and try and live up to the expectation."

"As a captain (I) try and step up and be counted at all times."

But Gayle warned his team the reliance on him would have to eventually cease.

"If it (Gayle getting runs) doesn't happen (it's up to) someone to grab the opportunity and be counted," he said.

"Even if I don't get a chance to get a couple of runs there's 11 players out there and we should all actually contribute in whatever way we can.

"Batters have to step up. We have to get the runs on the board to beat Australia."

Australia coach Tim Nielsen admitted his team had deliberately targeted Gayle in the hope of triggering uncertainty further down the West Indies batting card.

"Every opposition team has one or two key players," he explained.

"There is no doubt (Ricky) Ponting is the key for us and if he doesn't get runs for us it's difficult to get big scores.

"Chris has got the experience, talent and skill to have an impact.

"They've got a few inexperienced guys in the middle order, so if we can open up the top order a bit, it does put them under immense pressure.

"I think what we have done to date is create doubt in his mind about how we're going to bowl to him and how he's going to cope with that."

While Gayle is carrying the hopes of an entire team, he is also battling some personal demons.

Australian paceman Doug Bollinger has taken the punishing opener's wicket in both one-dayers, including a first-ball duck in Adelaide.

It's led to whispers Gayle may be the left-armer's bunny, but the Windies leader is not about to hide down the other end if Bollinger takes the first over at the SCG.

"It's cricket. I've been in situations like this on many occasions - it's not the first time," Gayle said

"I'm not the (sort of) person who's going to go down the non-striker's end.

"I'll face the first ball. I've got a lot of one ball (first-ball dismissals) before. This is cricket and I'm sure there's more to come in my career."