Colombo, Sri Lanka – Chris Gayle on Thursday announced that his ultimate goal is to get his hands on the World Cup trophy. The big left-hander, rated as one of the most destructive batsmen of all time, said he has a desire to become a world champions and bring back glory to West Indies cricket during the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.
“I’m looking forward to the tournament and the dream is to see the West Indies come out on top. The World Cup is the pinnacle of a player’s career and it is good to be part of the tournament here in the sub-continent,” Gayle told reporters during the team’s open media session.
“It can’t get any bigger than this. The West Indies have a legacy of winning and I want to give my best to win matches for us,” Gayle said.
“Whenever I cross that boundary rope I won’t leave anything on the field. I’m going to give it my all, give it my best shot. I am looking to try and dominate the World Cup,” Gayle said.
“I am sure we have the team to get the job done for the people of the Caribbean. We have the fire power – the bowling combinations are good, and we have good all rounders and quality in our batting. I am here now and I will be trying to make the most of it and win one for the fans.”
He announced: “This is my third World Cup. I played in South Africa in 2003 and in the Caribbean four years ago. I don’t know what the future holds and I don’t want to sit back and wait for the next World Cup in four years time. I am going to treat this like my final World Cup.”
In his career the 31-year-old Gayle has played 223 One-Day Internationals. He is close to 8,000 career runs, having made 7,917 at an average of 39 per innings. He has scored 19 centuries – equal with Brian Lara for the most by a West Indian.
Looking ahead to the next six weeks Gayle noted: “It will be one game at a time but in the back of our minds we are looking at the quarter-finals and then take it from there. We will look to build strength from the early stages and develop as we move along. It won’t be an easy task but it has to be done and we as players have to do it.
“The pitches in Asia are usual good to bat on. Most teams are playing a lot of T20 cricket nowadays so guys are learning much better how to execute – especially in the powerplay overs. Ultimately we will have to just wait and see what happens, and as I said before, the team which does the better job on the day will win.”
Chris Gayle, like many of the other West Indies cricketers are very good at ‘talking-the-talk’ before competitions/series, but not as good as ‘walking-the walk’. The problem is ‘consistency’ or rather lack of it. Chris Gayle cannot expect to produce one good inning in a series and expect his team to be competitive for the rest of the series we need to get the likes of Darren Bravo, Simmons, Barath etc to step up their performances and become more consistent than the more established players in order to stand a chance to win the world cup.
The West Indies selectors should have done all in their power to include Marlon Samuels in the squad since he is the most in-form batsman in the region. His inclusion would have boosted our chances a lot more.
wish you all the best Chris
HE will not stay around for too long he hinted that in his interview mark my words Chris is not going to be around for too long. Something fisher about Gale`s commitment to the sport. Hope i`m wrong!
i will answer you for Bravo and Pollard, these guys have the right to play for any team that they so choose. if it were not so the W.I cricket board would have stated it and give them an option. if you listen to the terms of their contract they are signed in with the west Indies cricket board. go guys and do your thing. Don’t let negativity bring you down. and west Indies shall make us proud.
chris should not be on the team. nor should bravo and pollard these guys do not have westindies cricket at heart. they are only thinking of them self. they could not even represent their countries in the caribbean tournament. its time to move on from them. why cann’t symmonds get on the side i bet he would do well. he surly can not do worse
all the best guys
Too much talk before the event. First Darren Bravo now Gayle. I want to see PERFORMANCE on the field. In all departments – batting, bowling, wicket-keeping and fielding. There is alot of room for improvement in all departments of the West Indies game.
But if they can improve and perform on the day then they are in with a chance. I support our team and wish them well!
i do not understand you. at a media event do you answer like you are afraid? and use words like maybe, i am not sure? no, you have to sound positive. it is not like they giave a media release, as part of the build up, there are interviews where the team members are questioned. check out any international sporting activities, there are always these type of interviews.
i am of the view that they want to do well and though they are not the favourites, they will do well.
Hmmm…….all cricket teams brace yourselves for the imminent impact of Chris Gayle’s bat!!
chris gale u are still dreaming? yr hand on what?. u could not entise a team in the IPL,hence u had to return home without being purchased being in the pool of players.
Maestro, garcon, you know your cricket.
As soon as I saw the headline, the first thing that came to my mind was, Gayle was trying to score 100 runs in 5 balls. Not only that, but in TRYING to be the man of the series after batting one innning, he will get himself out in 3 balls.
Something stayed with me from the time I was a boy playing cricket, you cannot score runs in the pavillion. You have to occupy the crease and runs will come.
That is the spirit of a true west indian cricketer, may God give you the glory.
Chris I got some advice for you and that is you need to play forward to balls that are close to you and you need to have your bat and pads close and not step forward then try to fit in your bat. You are creating a space between bat and pad through which to get bowled and also LBW opportunities for your opponents. Finally if you can bat for 35 overs you can score 150 every time you walk out on the field. Dont try to score 100 on twenty overs just target batting for thirty five overs ok that all every time and for sure we will total 325 in every inning. Oh I almost forgot, if the bowling is tight and you cannot hit the ropes take the singles ok. Good Luck
you know he cannot do that! too much at one time