SOMERSET were "disappointed" by Chris Gayle's controversial remarks to a female journalist and will speak to the former West Indies captain about the matter when he reports for duty.

The 36-year-old, who was criticised for asking female Australian reporter Mel McLaughlin out on a date during a live television interview earlier this year, was on Saturday facing fresh allegations of sexism after a series of controversial comments to Charlotte Edwardes in an article for the Times magazine.

According to the piece, Gayle said he has "a very, very big bat, the biggest in the wooooorld." He said to Edwardes: "You think you could lift it? You'd need two hands."

The article adds that Gayle asked Edwardes how many black men she has "had", and also asked if she had ever had a "t'eesome".

"I bet you have. Tell me," he is quoted as saying.

Gayle, who is currently featuring for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, has signed a contract to play for Somerset in the Natwest T20 Blast this summer.

The prolific batsman scored 328 runs in just three games for the club in last season's competition.

He will report for his six-game stint shortly before the June 1 match against Sussex, and can expect the topic of the newspaper interview to crop up promptly.

Somerset chief executive Guy Lavender said to Press Association Sport: "We were disappointed to read the report in The Times.

"Our experience of Chris was very positive when he was with us last season, both on and off the pitch.

"It was disappointing to read the article.

"We haven't had the opportunity to discuss this with him yet, but will of course do so when he arrives to play for us in a few days' time."

In the piece in the Times, Gayle later says: "Women should have equality and they do have equality. They have more than equality. Women can do what they want. Jamaican women are very vocal. They will let you know what time it is, for sure."

However, he adds: "Women should please their man. When he comes home, food is on the table. Serious. You ask your husband what he likes and then you make it."

Asked about homophobia, Gayle said: "The culture I grew up in, gays were negative. (But) people can do whatever they want. You can't tell someone how to live their life. It's a free world."

In January, Gayle was fined 10,000 Australian dollars following his interview with McLaughlin during a Big Bash League contest.

Asked about the incident by Edwardes, Gayle said: "It was a joke. She knew that. That's who I am, the joker."

Edwardes told the Press Association: "Others can decide whether his remarks were appropriate. If I'd been offended, I would have said so in The Times.

"By the way he made me laugh."