This may well be the biggest test 22-year-old Tom Curran has had in his career.

The Surrey quick isn't scared of the battle and bowls down a slower ball. He then tries a bouncer but Gayle is onto it. The West Indian doesn't get all of the upper cut but it still goes for four.

And the final ball of Curran's over suffers the same fate. This time off the bat of Evin Lewis. Expensive start from Curran. 15 from the over.

Image source, Reuters

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

That was baseball-esque. Stand and deliver, he hits through the line of the ball. Exceptional power.

The crowd are almost stunned into silence by this power from Chris Gayle. It's super human.

Tom Curran comes into the England attack but it's the same result. Another six over long-on.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

The first was effortless, sheer brute force from Gayle. He rocked back and nudged it firmly, exceptional shot.

Then the second six, it just looked too easy yet again. He is all or nothing - he defends or looks to hit a maximum. Not many people are successful at choosing when they want to hit it big.

Image source, Getty Images

Those sixes brought up Chris Gayle's century of sixes in T20 internationals. You won't be surprised to hear he's at the top of that list.

David Willey didn't even turn around to look for the ball after the second one. The left-armer knew where the ball was going.

WI 23-0published at 2.4 overs

2.4 overs

Gayle 17, Lewis 5

Whack!

Chris Gayle treats a back-of-a-length delivery from Willey with disdain. He hardly swung the bat but it flies over mid-wicket for six. What power this man has.

Wow. And again! Straight back at the camera. Classic Gayle. It's too easy for him.

Snookered 147: Evin Lewis is bang in form based on the CPL. Should be fun watching him bat.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

I think Joe Root should bowl more in all cricket, but definitely in one-day. Eoin Morgan hasn't utilised him as much as he should have.

Root is going to have to wait to bowl to Gayle, though - Evin Lewis is on strike.

England's Test skipper is not even trying to spin the ball. He's darting it in. The first three are good but the fourth has too much width. Lewis throws his hands at the ball and picks up four over the covers.

Now this is interesting. If you remember back to that World T20 final Joe Root dismissed Chris Gayle in the second over and is into the attack at the same point here at Durham.

Fergie-style mind games from Eoin Morgan.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

It is a good pitch. Yes, it's been under the covers for a couple of days but it is straw coloured and it looks dry. There might be a little bit in it for the seamers first up.

A single to the big man brings left-handed Evin Lewis on strike for the first time. I'm excited to see him bat here.

Watchful. A flick off the pads for a single into the leg side.

Willey bowled a big leg-side wide in the middle of that over but the rest was pretty tidy.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

Great swing from Willey, no foot movement from Gayle but he played it nice and late. But it is a good start from Willey.

Not classic Gayle but he starts with a four.

There's a bit of wobble through the air from David Willey but Gayle tentatively nudges and the ball skews off the edge for four down to third man.

That sunshine has gone. A woman is wearing earmuffs in the crowd. We told you it was cold. I think Chris Gayle may have a few layers under his shirt. David Willey will open the bowling for England.

Here. We. Go.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

It is Adil Rashid's shirt. Mason Crane did OK and people are excited to see a young leg-spinner with so much potential but let's be honest - Rashid is the best leg-spinner in England.

Malan must be devastated that he has been left out for some of the big guns to come back in.

So Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis will be opening the batting for West Indies.

Gayle needs no introduction. A man with 18 T20 centuries, comfortably more than anyone else.

Evin Lewis is a player you may not be as familiar with but watch out. He has two international T20 hundreds. Carlos Brathwaite described him as the "young Chris Gayle" at the toss.

Tasty...

Image source, Getty Images

Ebony also made a very good point re Stokes' omission which I hadn't considered.

Why risk a demerit point for the all-rounder with Marlon Samuels in the opposing ranks?

He is one away from a ban remember.

James Taylor
Ex-England batsman on Test Match Special

The timing is frustrating for England and Durham cricket fans. Local people want to come out and see Ben Stokes - he has never played for England on his home ground. I do understand where the ECB are coming from, but at the end of the day you want to win this series, even if it is just the one match. They could have rested him for some of the one-day-internationals next week.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

I am gutted Ben Stokes isn't playing, absolutely gutted. I think it's more than just giving him a rest. Yes, he's had a strong workload but he has targets on his back from West Indies so maybe it is the right time for him to miss this one out.