We had Gayle under control, says Roy
It IS the question that haunts West Indies before today’s second one-day international. Could Chris Gayle really have smashed 12 sixes yet still cost them victory against England in the first extraordinary run-laden match here?
Such is the modern game, and England’s ability to chase just about any 50- over target, that the man who calls himself the ‘Universe Boss’ found himself at the centre of West Indies’ inquest yesterday, even though he hit 135 in Wednesday’s six-wicket defeat.
So expert are Eoin Morgan’s England at chasing that West Indies were made to rue Gayle’s slow, almost Geoff Boycott-like start, and the astonishing contrast that he used up 64 dot balls in his innings while smashing 12 deliveries for six.
West Indies’ total of 360 for eight was clearly not enough as soon as England hit their stride, even though it meant they had to pull off their record 50-over chase and the fourth-highest in ODI history to win with eight balls to spare. And they slowed up with the winning post in sight.
It was also noticed that Gayle, whose body is creaking at 39, barely fielded, particularly when England’s chase was at its most intense, and the umpires need to keep a close eye on his absences from the action in this series.
England’s attitude towards Gayle was revealed afterwards when Jason Roy, who reached three figures in 35 balls fewer, said: ‘We were very relaxed about him because I don’t think he ever got away from us.
‘He smoked it and played really well but never pulled away from our bowlers.’
the same could not be said for the Surrey man, who has now scored centuries in the warm-up and first ODI here. It is form that could make him a World Cup hero this summer, as well as catapult him into England’s Ashes plans.
‘I’m batting as well as ever,’ said Roy, who played just a single defensive shot before reaching his ton on Wednesday.
‘that’ll be up there as one of my favourite innings, especially chasing such a big total. I’ve been in a good mental space and hitting them in the middle without getting runs, so it’s been pleasing and satisfying to make such a good start here.
‘When you’re chasing 360, you can’t have too many negative thoughts but I was just flowing.
‘I think the way we simplify things makes it easier. Eoin Morgan stood up in the dressing room at the halfway stage and said that, with the wind and fast outfield, it would be more like chasing 320. So we thought, “OK, 320 is still an ask, but with our line-up and capabilities we can chase it”.’
Roy will miss the three twenty20 matches against West Indies that finish this tour to be at the birth of his first child and national selector Ed Smith yesterday had to defend Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes’ absences from the squad, even though they will be playing in the Indian Premier League.
‘I have not favoured franchise cricket over international cricket,’ insisteded Smith. ‘the contractsacts Jos and Ben had with their franchises pre-date my involvement.
‘ With a busy year coming up, I’ve accepted the strong recommendations of the head coach to rest these guys now.’
One man who will be playing in the short-form games in St Lucia and St Kitts is Joe Root, even though he is a prime candidate for a break at the start of his busiest and most important year as an England player, with a World Cup and Ashes on home soil. ‘J o e is an aabsolutely critical aasset for English crcricket in the very big 2019 summer,’ addadded Smith. ‘ His form and preparation are essentialesse for England, so we did disdiscuss resting him, but he is very keen to play. ‘He feels playing in the whiteball sides offers a different experience from captaining the test side and he likes that blend.’ ENGLAND T20 squad to face West Indies in St Lucia (March 5) and St Kitts (March 8 &
10): Morgan (capt), Ali, Bairstow (wkt), Billings, T Curran, Denly, Hales, Jordan, Malan, Plunkett, Rashid, Root, Willey, Wood.