West Indies batsman Chris Gayle leaves the field after being bowled by England’s Stuart Broad during the second day of the first Test match between England and West Indies at Lord’s cricket ground in London, Thursday, May 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Chris Gayle has received a fair bit of criticism for his comments about Test Cricket. He admitted that he doesn’t like the traditional five-day format, preferring the whizz-bang action of Twenty20s.
Andrew Strauss questioned his commitment when he turned up just two days before the first Test against England at Lords.
It now puts the pressure on the West Indian cricket board. How can they let him play and captain the side when his heart (excuse the pun) is not in it?
Chris Gayle says he doesn’t know how long he wants to keep playing Tests.
Can you imagine if Punter came out and said “Test cricket has nothing on Twenty 20”? I doubt Cricket Australia would be too happy.
Whether he is committed or not, he is a very fine cricketer. There’s few cricketers who can make the game look so easy.
When he bowls, he looks like he’s preparing to send down a loopy half-volley to a five-year-old. But at the last minute he flings his wrist over and sends it down at a fair pace. It’s the same with his batting. He is so still at the crease, and at the last minute he’ll either defend the ball or blast it through or over the field.
He says he is so casual because of his heart problem, and he can’t get too excited because of it.
But surely Twenty20 is the last game you’d want to play if you didn’t want to get the heart racing!
To me saying I prefer Twenty20 cricket as a player is a bit like saying you prefer the American version of The Office to the British original. The remake of cricket lacks the subtlety, that you can experience in the ebb and flow of five day cricket.
Maybe Chris Gayle, just hasn’t experienced a good Test series in his career. He has, after all been part of a team, starved of success. Even their recent win against England in the West Indies contained some drab cricket, until the last day of a couple of Tests.
But it’s his opinion, and he’s entitled to that. We all dislike aspects of our job, and clearly Gayle would prefer a three hour match for his money, than a five-day contest.
I now fear that more players will “come out” of the cricket closet, and admit that Twenty20 is their guilty pleasure.
Up until now Twenty20 has not been taken too seriously by many players. But if more admit their love of the game, how will that affect Test cricket?
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Unfortunately Tests seem to be losing their edge. I still rather enjoy the form of the game but overseas I get the feeling many are turning increasingly to T20. It foreseeable that in the not so distant Test cricket may very well be a thing of the past and the 50 version will be next in line. I hope this doesn't happen. If the Ashes series was lost then in my view cricket is dead. But T20 is the money game. More and more of our young talent will likely choose this form. Many see this form as Crickets opportunity to spread its influence internationally.
Brett McKay
Expert
It's an interesting situation Ben, that Gayle has put himself into, but consideration needs to be given that unlike say Ponting and Strauss, the WI cricketers contracts aren't nearly as lucrative. WI players (and SL, NZ, Pak, for that matter) can only dream about central contracts being worth more than A$1M with match payments. For these guys, it's simply a matter of maximising their earning potential. And on that, Matthew Hayden's scintillating post-retirement IPL form is probably the worst thing that could happen to those lower-paying countries trying to contract guys in their 30s. Call Hayden a flat track blaster is you like, but what's not to like about a six-week season with a training regime consisting mainly of surfing?!?! Hayden may well fulfill his dream of playing till he's 40!! To finish, I thought it was a curious - but amusing - comparison of the cricekt forms to the British and American versions of The Office. I take your point completely about the Amercian version beong less subtle, but you've possibly overlooked one major flaw in your analogy: the British version is long gone, while the less-subtle American remake continues (it's even getting better)!!! If T20 kills Test cricket Conks, I'm putting it on your head!!!
drewster
Roar Pro
Ther was an article posted on 7th May http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/05/07/collingwood-wants-test-twenty20-pay-closer/ with Paul Collingwoods view on this subject. The player payments and bonuses for test cricket must be made to compare with Twenty20 or as sheek has posted it becomes simple economics and as with any job why work harder for less pay. To the cricket lover Tests will always be "The Game", But will the next generation of Players/Spectators see it that way?
sheek
Guest
Chris Gayle has said what many cricketers think. Look at David Warner, he was earning big bucks without playing either tests or onedayers for Australia, & with very few 1st class matches under his belt. Why bother with test cricket? It's simple economics - while ordinary players can make a fortune from Twenty20, there's no incentive to strive for test & oneday cricket honours. Sadly, very sadly,the future of cricket is NOT test cricket.
Rabbitz
Guest
It still may be a reflection of West Indian cricket, if their test Captain holds these beliefs, then could this merely be a symptom of WI crickets current state?
Spiro Zavos
Expert
The spin now from Chris Gayle (rather more than he imparts on his gentle rollers) is that Twenty20 cricket is the best game for him now. And this makes sense. He is late in his Test career and like Matthew Hayden and others can look forward to a lucrative and successful career in the IPL when his Test days are over. The furore over his comments has a big element of the contrived, in my view, more media/cricket hype than substance. Cricket is slowly absorbing the Twenty20 game, and the IPL, like a python swallowing a wild beast that has tried to muscle into its territory. This was done with the one-day game and will be done in time, with Test cricket retaining a premium status, with Twenty20 cricket.