Christopher Henry Gayle, the ‘Universe Boss’ is
undoubtedly one of the greatest and most loved
cricketers of all time. His achievements in cricket
are outstanding. Gayle, a Jamaican by birth, has
represented West Indies in all three formats of the game.
He played a crucial role in the West Indies teams which
won several championships, including the 2004 ICC
Champions Trophy, and the 2012 and 2016 ICC World T20
tournaments.
Gayle himself has set numerous records across the three
formats of the game. He is the most capped player for
West Indies in International cricket and is the only player
worldwide to score a century in each format. Gayle is the
leading run-scorer for West Indies in both ODIs and T201s
and is one of only two West Indies batsmen to score more
than 10,000 runs for the West Indies in ODI cricket.
In Tests, Gayle has scored over 7000 runs which includes
15 centuries. He is one of only four West Indies players
to score a triple century in a Test. In fact, Chris Gayle has
scored a triple century twice in Test and is only the fourth
International batsman besides Don Bradman, Brian Lara,
and Virender Sehwag with two triple centuries in Test.
To further point out just how significant this achievement
of triple centuries is in this important format of the
game is, it has been done on just 31 occasions by only 27
batsmen since the first test match was played way back
in 1877. That is roughly 144 years ago.
Because of Gayle’s aggressive style of batting he has
proven to be naturally gifted for the T20 format. Gayle has
mesmerized and entertained cricket audiences worldwide
with his remarkable boundary-hitting ability, including
massive sixes which often destroyed the confidence
of bowlers. I still remember that stunning century he
made in West Indies’ first match of the 2007 T20 World
Cup. Though West Indies were defeated by South Africa,
Gayle’s 117 in just 57 balls was a sheer joy to watch. He hit
10 sixes and 7 fours and almost single-handedly took the
West Indies score to 205/6. Only three
other West Indies batsmen had double
figures; Devon Smith who opened with
Gayle got 35, Shivnarine Chanderpaul
went for 11 and Ramnaresh Sarwan
made 12. South Africa reached the target
with 14 balls remaining. Though it was a
disappointing loss for West Indies, Gayle
had left us with sweet memories of his
superb knock.
Having said all I needed to say about
Chris Gayle’s magnificent achievements
in cricket, let me now address the real
reason for this article. Should Chris
Gayle, at the age of 42, be given one more opportunity
to represent the West Indies as a ‘fitting send-off’ for
his remarkable service to West Indies? Should he be
allowed to play one last T20 match in front of his home
crowd in Jamaica next year?
That seems to be his desire from interviews he has
given after West Indies’ poor performance in the
recently-concluded ICC T20 World Cup. Many of his
fans seem to want it to happen to and CWI seems ready
to grant that wish. But is it the right thing to do? Sure
his outstanding contribution as a cricketer seems to
suggest that he indeed should be honoured in this way.
But I ask again….is it the right thing to do?
Many would argue that the past governing bodies of
West Indies cricket treated great players like Chris
Gayle badly and many of them left without a proper
and fitting ‘send-off’ so on that basis they see nothing
wrong in granting Gayle what is probably his great
desire.
Here are two problems with that.
Firstly, Chris Gayle is in very poor form. He has aged
and is not the destructive batsman he was before. His
reflexes are much slower and he is sluggish in the field.
West Indies have now dropped to ninth in the ICC T20
ranking and will now have to play in the qualifying for
next year’s World Cup. Isn’t it time to get new players
into the team and say to the older ones like Gayle,
Simmons, and Rampaul, thank you? Gayle’s send-off
should have taken place years ago when he was in
much better form and a bit younger. It is comical and
so sad to see him on the field struggling to perform.
Secondly, to me it is insulting to West Indies cricket
for anyone to be suggesting this kind of send-off
for Gayle. This is highly competitive cricket, not a
wrestling match, meant for just entertainment. This is
International cricket where each team tries to put the
best X1 on the field. Wouldn’t it be better if Chris Gayle
is granted a special official ceremony, or an unofficial
‘send-off’ game, rather than including him in the X1 for
an ICC T20 match against an International opponent?
If Gayle was still in good form I would not have been
so much against his inclusion, but in my opinion, if he
doesn’t merit selection, no way should he be included
and a younger player be denied an opportunity to
represent the West Indies, just because we want to give
Christopher Henry Gayle a good ‘send-off’.