EXCLUSIVE: Despite being known for laying into the finest bowling attacks in the world, battering their reputation with his sledgehammer style and aggressive boundary hitting, Chris Gayle is reassuringly laid-back in person. It seems nothing can bother the giant Jamaican. He lives life his own way, and he sets his own pace.
On the cricket pitch and with a bat in his hand, that pace can be brutal, as the Pune Warriors found out earlier this year when he smashed an unbeaten 175 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, even before the spectators had a chance to settle down. But outside the oval, Gayle compensates for his intimidating, on-pitch presence with a deliberate, slow-as-molasses manner.
In Dubai for a couple of days to promote Spartan bats and their tie-up with Sun and Sand Sports as their authorised dealers, the 34-year-old admits that while he was looking forward to West Indies’ upcoming tour of India, which starts October 31 and will include Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th Test match, he hasn’t touched a bat since the day he led Jamaica to victory in the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on August 24.
“Honestly, I am not a very practice-oriented guy. As we get closer to the tour, I will start batting. But I would like to feel fresh when I go out on the field. I like to do some physical work and look after my body, but I don’t do much practice,” said Gayle.
“We are in a break right now and we will start to get together soon and start our rebuilding sessions with the tour to India in mind. It’s gonna be a huge build-up to the series.”
Sachin’s milestone
“Yeah… it is going to be a special occasion for Sachin personally and it’s a great achievement. We all know what a legend he is and what he has done for the game of cricket. I am actually looking forward to that match. I hope he doesn’t make too many runs against us.
“Any tour of India is challenging, and this one will be no different. We have won six consecutive Test matches, and we will try our best to extend that streak. We would definitely like to create history. Anything is possible, we just have to have that self-belief.”
Gayle’s captaincy of Jamaica Tallawahs in the CPL earned high praise from Brian Lara and other experts, but he is not going to change his mind and accept the responsibility again, having last led the side in 2010. Besides, he thinks Darren Sammy is doing a wonderful job at the helm of affairs.
“I have given up on captaincy. The best thing for West Indies cricket would be to find a young captain and groom him. So, when it is time for the senior players to step away, there is a captain with lots of experience under his belt. That, I believe, is the best way forward for us,” said Gayle, who is three matches away from 100 Tests in the maroon cap.
“I think Sammy started out well, and as he grows into the role as the captain, his confidence is also growing. Even as a person and as a cricketer, I have seen a lot of change recently. He has improved his bowling and batting tremendously. His work ethic is phenomenal. He has achieved a lot, but the good thing is that he is still learning, and he is willing to keep learning.”
Belligerent knock
Gayle insists an innings like the 175 against Pune can never be planned, it just happens. And despite the jaw-dropping nature of that knock, his favourite innings is the 333 he scored against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2010.
“I don’t think you can plan any innings, forget the 175. I think I was lucky everything fell in place that day. The occasion was right, the atmosphere was right, the crowd was brilliant. I gave it my best shot and it turned out that way. I am just happy that I could entertain,” said Gayle.
“But the 333 remains my favourite innings. That was my first-ever century against Sri Lanka. That was one team against who I had never scored well. So, when I reached 100, I was determined to make it a big one, and I was glad I managed to do that.”
Such have been his achievements in the shorter formats of the game (21 centuries in ODIs, 11 in Twenty20s and one in T20 internationals) it is easy to forget Gayle’s phenomenal record in Test cricket. He is only the fourth batsman in the history of the game to make two triple centuries, and has made 6,836 runs at a healthy average of 42.45.
“People tend to remember you for your last performance and we have played far more T20s and ODIs than Test cricket in the last couple of years,” he said. “You know, I am actually the highest cent-ury maker in the history of West Indies cricket (across all formats of the game), but people don’t look at it that way. But at least I am recognised as the greatest in some format. As a player I know what I have achieved, so it is not a big fuss for me.”
Even though he is now 34 and among the senior players, Gayle has not even thought about his future a year from now, let alone the idea of retirement. He added: “I am still enjoying the game, having fun, and I like touring the world. I love entertaining people. It is just a question of keeping yourself fit and having fun out there. That’s really been my motto in life.
“I have just one life and I want to live it to the fullest. I try not to think of any negative things. Whether I score runs on the pitch or not, it’s not going to affect me outside the ground. I try never to make it a dull moment. I love the game because of the fun I have, and the enjoyment I can give to the fans.
“I thank God for all my achievements and the opportunities that I have been given. I now try to give back as much as possible.”
And for that, cricket fans the world over, are grateful.
GAYLE’S FAVOURITES
All-time cricketer: Brian Lara. What a batsman!
Cricket stadium: Sabina Park in Jamaica. Great atmosphere and my home ground.
Other sport: Football
Football team: Manchester United
Football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Food: The Escoveitch fish prepared by my mom
Singer: The legend, man, the one and only Bob Marley.
Song: Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’.
Actor: Many to choose from. I love the comic guys like Jamie Foxx, Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, as well as the action stars like Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Actress: Halle Berry and Julia Roberts. Loved Berry’s outfit as the Catwoman!
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