By Tony Cozier
In LONDON
Julian Hunte said last night he was taken aback by Chris Gayle’s stunning interview in the Guardian newspaper here yesterday in which, two days before the decisive second Test against England, the West Indies captain indicated that he did not enjoy Test cricket and would soon quit the post.
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president was only made aware of Gayle’s comments yesterday afternoon, minutes after speaking with team manager Omar Khan.
“I keep in touch with the manager on a regular basis and he did not give the impression of anything untoward,” Hunte said from his office in St. Lucia. “He said the team had taken the coach journey of six hours from London to Durham (where the Test starts tomorrow at Chester-le-Street) and all was well”.
Hunte was in London for the Lord’s Test last week which the West Indies lost by 10 wickets but stated that the captain did not bring any such concerns to him then.
“I recall that there was speculation in some of the English media that Chris might resign after he returned from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to join the team just before the Test but I took it as pure speculation,” he said. “There was certainly nothing on that score from the captain himself.”
Gayle was quoted in the interview, by Anna Kessel, as stating that he did not like Test cricket, that he “wouldn’t be so sad” if were to die out and that he prefers 20/20 cricket over the traditional game.
About the captaincy, he was reported as stating: “To be honest with you, there’s a possibility I might give it up – I will be giving it up, shortly.”
Hunte said that if Gayle was quoted correctly, his statements are disturbing coming before a vital Test, with the West Indies one down following their loss in the first Test and with three ODIs and the second World 20/20 championships to follow in England over the next six weeks.
“This is bound to have an effect on the whole spirit of the team,” he noted. “It is an unfortunate development”.
Hunte said he would be in touch with Khan again this morning for further clarification.
Gayle’s position should be clearer when he faces the media at the customary eve of match conference today at 12.45 pm British summer time (7.45 am east Caribbean time).
If he confirms what he said in the Guardian, his position would be obviously untenable and the WICB would have to let him know that it would expect his immediate resignation.
In those circumstances, vice-captain Denesh Ramdin, himself appointed as replacement when Ramnaresh Sarwan suddenly quit prior to the tour of New Zealand last September but who has little experience, would take over.
The 29-year-old Gayle, who has played 81 Tests since making his debut in 2000, took over the captaincy in the absence of the injured Sarwan for the ODI series in England in 2007.
The WICB originally rejected his appointment by the selectors in favour of Daren Ganga but then reversed the decision.
It brought a pointed response from Gayle. When he was admonished by then WICB president Ken Gordon who demanded an apology, Gayle refused.
The matter was dropped when Hunte replaced Gordon as WICB president.
Gayle was retained over Sarwan for the 2007-08 South Africa since when he has led the team to Test victories over South Africa in South Africa and Sri Lanka and a 1-0 series triumph over England at home earlier this year that regained the Wisden Trophy after nine years.
He resigned at a WICB directors meeting last July in St.Lucia, following the series against Australia in the Caribbean, mainly on disagreements over selection but was persuaded to remain on by Hunte.
Since then, he has earned US$1 million as captain of the victorious Stanford Super Stars in the 20/20 for US$20 million match against England in Antigua in November and US$700,000 on a contract in the IPL where he played for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
