Gayle to go out on a high?

– Veteran West Indies batsman Chris Gayle (above) announced over the weekend that he will retire from one-day international cricket after this year’s World Cup in England and Wales.

The big-hitting 39-year-old opener, who has scored 9 727 runs in 284 ODIs, is set to play his first international since last July against England tomorrow.

The self-styled “Universe Boss” appears confident he can bow out in style after a 20-year career built on brutal hitting.

Gayle needs 677 more runs to surpass the great Brian Lara as the West Indies’ all-time record ODI runscorer, a feat he will be hoping to achieve at his fifth World Cup, starting on May 30.

The Windies begin their bid for a third World Cup title on May 31 against Pakistan.

“I’ll let the youngsters have some fun and I can sit back in the party stand and watch them have some fun,” said Gayle.

Gayle has been mainly a T20 specialist since making his last Test appearance in 2014, and most recently played in the Bangladesh Premier League earlier this month.

He will continue playing franchise cricket, with the T20 World Cup in 2021 still on the agenda.

“I’m in good condition. The body is feeling good and I’m pleased with that,” he added.

“I’ve lost a bit of weight and I don’t want to get too big. I’m still working on my six pack.”

Since making his debut in 1999, Gayle has also scored a Windies record of 23 ODI hundreds, including the first ever World Cup double century against Zimbabwe four years ago.

Tomorrow’s game in Barbados is the first of a five-match series against World Cup favourites England.