Battle is on to replace injured Ashton
JOE COKANASIGA will battle it out with Jack Nowell to replace Chris Ashton on England’s right wing against Wales.
Ashton, who made his first Six Nations start for six years in last Sunday’s thumping of France, has been ruled out by a minor calf strain.
England coach Eddie Jones will consider Nowell, whom he had dropped to the bench to make space for Ashton. But he also has Cokanasiga ready for the first time since the Bath wing was sidelined for 10 weeks with knee ligament damage.
Cokanasiga, 21, made a massive impression in the autumn, scoring tries on his first two starts against Japan and Australia. And he confirmed his fitness and form on Saturday with a try in Bath’s 30-13 Premiership win over Newcastle. Cokanasiga said: “I am confident with the knee and ready for the challenge ahead. I have been working hard to get back to where I was before.
“The injury was one of the best things that could have happened to me because I could easily have become complacent after the autumn and relaxed. Now I have
CHRIS GAYLE has issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to the ECB and their 100-ball competition after announcing he is quitting ODI cricket following this summer’s World Cup.
The self-proclaimed ‘Universe Boss’ is on a farewell tour of the Caribbean aiming to put England’s bowlers to the sword across the final five matches he will play in the region.
Gayle might be 39 and in the twilight of an outstanding career across all formats but he can still hit a long ball and destroy a bowling attack from the top of the order – and that is why he would be a draw card for the ECB’s latest venture in 2020.
“Well, if I don’t start it, it won’t be a tournament,” declared Gayle, who has already quit Test cricket but not the limited-overs game.
“England should invite me over. Then I’ll explode the tournament and say, ‘Thank you guys; bring in a youngster now’.
“I’ll set the trend for you like I did in all tournaments around the world. Fingers crossed; we’ll see what happens.”
If the former Windies skipper lights up his fifth World Cup in England and Wales from May to July it will bring down the curtain on a stellar career.
He is on course to become only the second man from the Caribbean, behind the legendary Brian Lara to score 10,000 ODI runs.
The Jamaican needs just 273 to reach the landmark, which could come during this series against England that begins on Wednesday at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.
“It is good to be back at the start of a big year,” Gayle added.
“It’s a possibility that it might be the last time they get to see me on local soil. In 50-over cricket, definitely the World Cup is the end. I’m looking to draw the line there – or should I say cut the string?
“Let the youngsters have some fun and I can sit back in the party stand and watch them have some fun.
“Winning the World Cup would be the fairy tale. The youngsters owe it to me.
“They have to do that for me and try and get me the trophy. I’ll be looking to put my input in as well.
“I’m always looking to put on a show.
“England fans love to see the Universe Boss exploding and entertaining you guys as much as possible here in the Caribbean.”
Standing in his way over the next three weeks are the likes of Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Liam Plunkett, who have helped take England to No1 in the world in the 50-over format.
But Gayle has rapped out a warning to them if they think that his advancing years will make him any easier to stop.
Asked whether he was still the ‘Universe Boss’ he exclaimed: “That will never change man!
“I will take that to the grave.
“I don’t know who is opening the bowling for England but any bowler is going to beware of Chris Gayle.
“That doesn’t change because he is 39 now.
“They are going to be saying, ‘Yes, he’s got some grey hairs in his beard, let’s get him now, this is the perfect time to get the Universe Boss now he is 39’.
“But I’ve set the trend for a long time so hopefully I can continue in that same vein.
“I’m in good condition. The body is feeling good and I’m pleased with that.”