With Sabina Park send-off not an option, Gayle focuses on franchise cricket
CHRIS Gayle, one of the West Indies’ finest ever opening batsmen, says while he has not retired from international cricket, he has accepted he’s unlikely to leave the game as he wished with a last hoorah at world-famous Sabina Park in his native Jamaica.
But the 43-year-old former West Indies captain, who recently embarked on a career in music production, said he plans to continue playing franchise cricket on a global scale, and might even turn out for his boyhood team Lucas Cricket Club at some point.
“I haven’t announced anything [about retirement] as yet, to be honest with you. From an international point of view, that [playing for West Indies again] is not possible,” Gayle told journalists after an exhibition game featuring him and fellow West Indies great Brian Lara at Treasure Beach Sports Park on Sunday.
“I wanted that one final game at Sabina Park… but I don’t see that happening at any particular time now,” he said.
“I’m still looking to play franchise cricket later down in the year, so I’m taking it in stride. I ventured into music as well, started my record label Triple Century Record and I’m in the business side as well.
“This year, yes, I’d love to play some more cricket. It’s just to select when I get the time because I’m pretty much at the end [of my career], and I have other things to do as well, [get] back in the music studio… put out more music and have some fun while doing it as well,” Gayle explained.
Before his Test cricket career ended prematurely in 2014, Gayle, who made his debut in 2000, scored 7,214 runs at an average of 42.18. The tall left-hand batsman notched 15 centuries, including a highest score of 333. He was also a very useful off-spinner, taking 73 Test wickets, highlighted by a best of 5-34.
In One Day International cricket Gayle scored 10,450 runs at 37.88 in 301 matches.
He is arguably the most destructive batsman to have played Twenty20 cricket, dominating bowlers in multiple competitions around the world, not least the Indian Premier League. In T20 international cricket he won World Cup titles with West Indies in 2012 and 2016.
Gayle said the experience in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, where thousands of spectators turned out to see him, Lara and others at the Daren Powellorganised cricket festival, is an indication he still has plenty to give on the field.
“A day like this, with the fans that turned out, it goes to show that people still appreciate you, people still want to see you. I’ll continue playing, not only charity games, but maybe I’ll venture back to Lucas Cricket Club and play some club games with the youngsters. I’m sure they will enjoy that, so that’s something I’m looking to do,” he said.