ESPNcricinfo staff
November 10, 2012
'If
you don't have fun, you'll struggle in international cricket," - Chris
Gayle
Chris
Gayle's return to the West Indies ranks has been a happy one. He has tucked a
Test century and a world title under his belt since June this year when the
15-month impasse with the WICB ended. He's also worldlier, not just from
playing all the Twenty20 leagues, but for being equipped to deal with every
aspect of cricket administration, an aspect he thinks is a "part of
life" as an international cricketer.
"We
are playing international cricket, so there's going to be issues to deal with
on and off the field," Gayle said. "As a player you have to know how
to deal with things around your career. You have to be strong-minded to get the
job done. It is part of life."
Following
the 2011 World Cup, the Gayle-WICB saga came to a head after Gayle criticised
the selectors. He was first dropped for the visits of Pakistan and India to the
Caribbean and was also ignored for the tour to Bangladesh in October. He went
on to miss series against India, Australia and England from November 2011 to
June this year, West Indies having won just 14 out of the 47 international
matches during this latest stint away from the team. The standoff was only
broken when he and his agent met the selectors in St Vincent, following which
the WICB picked him for the limited-overs leg of the England tour.
Despite
the return, Gayle has said that off-field issues are endemic, and it has to be
dealt with. "We will always have these things to deal with off the field,
every particular board is going to have problems. It is something we have to
live with."
Gayle
has made it count though. He made 150 and another half-century over two Tests
against New Zealand earlier this year and he has averaged above 50 in ODIs and
Twenty20s since his return. And he's been having fun in the dressing-room too.
"If
you don't have fun, you'll struggle in international cricket. I am enjoying it,
it's good to be back and contributing at the top of the order. Hopefully in the
next couple of years, things can get better from a personal point of view. I
will try and entertain as much as possible," said Gayle who turned 33
during the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, a tournament that saw West Indies back
on the winners' podium after 33 years.
Gayle
said he can look back to the tournament with fond memories, but is now more
inclined to focus on Test cricket. "It is great, to get that milestone of
winning the World T20," he said. "This is something that I can look
back in the future and say I was a part of it. This is just another target we
can set, and do better in the longer form of the game. That has been our major
challenge in the last couple of years."
He
was also happy to see Darren Sammy, the man who took over long-term from Gayle
(though Dwayne Bravo and Floyd Reifer were in charge for three games in the
interim), take strides as the leader.
"He
has played a particular role in the last two years," he said. "It is
not an easy role to be captain. We are trying to make his job as easy as
possible. We try to play a part by helping him out, but he's done well. He got
a Test century this year which is a big improvement from his personal point of
view. He's doing well with the ball too. He will get to learn more and make
changes and see how he can cope with it, to be a better captain."
When
West Indies take on Bangladesh in the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National
Stadium from November 13, it will also be Gayle's first Test away from home in
almost two years.
SOURCE: http://www.espncricinfo.com/bangladesh-v-west-indies-2012/content/current/story/590639.html
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