Gayle’s status up in air
Whether or not the West Indies can call upon star batsman Chris Gayle in Christchurch on Saturday is anyone’s guess.
Gayle became ill after scoring 22 in his side’s innings in Whangarei on Wednesday, and his status for the second match against the Black Caps has been up in the air since he failed to field in the opening five-wicket loss.
The visitors have offered little information around his illness since, but West Indies captain Jason Holder said the powerful left-hander would be given every chance to play at Hagley Oval as they attempt to keep the threematch series alive.
‘‘We will wait until [Saturday] morning and see how he pulls up,’’ Holder said ahead of his side’s training session on Friday.
‘‘To be honest, we’re not sure right now. We’re hopeful that he can play but there is still some doubt.’’
Like West Indies coach Stuart Law in Whangarei on Wednesday, Holder didn’t reveal details around Gayle’s illness but did say the 38-year-old’s health had improved.
‘‘He’s in good spirits . . . Chris is always a bubbly guy, he’s full of jokes, he’s still that normal way, so just hoping he can recover well enough to take a further part in the tour.’’
The West Indies could dearly do with their best player as they attempt to breathe life into what’s been a dismal tour of New Zealand.
A 2-0 test match series loss was followed by their sixth consecutive ODI loss this year, bringing their overall ODI record in 2017 to 3-14.
Their 16 losses include a 63-run loss to Afghanistan in June.
Holder didn’t shy away from the fact his team desperately needs a win, and he singled out his team’s batting as the area which needs to improve most.
‘‘We definitely have to make more runs. The nature of this game now, you have got to score in excess of 300 runs consistently,’’ he said.
‘‘Yeah, we did bat the overs [in game one], but we didn’t get up to 300 runs, which is probably a benchmark for us.’’
Holder hadn’t sighted the Hagley Oval pitch when he spoke to media on Friday afternoon, but he was quick to recall his team’s 150-run thumping of Pakistan at the ground during the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
On that occasion, the Windies scored 310 before Holder claimed 1-23 and Pakistan folded for 160.