`I’ve represented the West Indies with one leg and one hand before the majority of people wouldn’t have done those things’
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – A defiant Chris Gayle has defended his reappointment as West Indies captain and says his passion for and commitment to West Indies cricket has remained unwavering.
The 29-year-old Jamaican, who has led the regional side for the last two years, was quick to brush aside criticism he should have been axed as skipper ahead of the three-Test tour of Australia, stressing he was not about to entertain negativity.
“It’s their opinion. I can’t say too much about it. Whatever their view is or whatever they saw in the last couple of months or two years I’ve been captain is their view. There’s nothing I can do about it, I still have to be positive,” said Gayle who was given the green light by the West Indies Cricket Board last week.
“I’ve been reinstated as captain so I have a job to fulfill and I’m going to do that to the best of my ability and be fully committed which I’ve always been representing the West Indies team.”
Gayle has come under fire in recent time, especially for his ill-advised comments on the captaincy during an interview with a British newspaper earlier this year in England.
His role in the recent players’ strike that decimated the West Indies side and forced selectors to hastily pull together a second string squad for the Bangladesh series and the ICC Champions Trophy, also strengthened calls for his removal.
Despite the raging debate, Gayle said he was focused on uniting the team, especially in the wake of the recent upheaval.
“I’m not going to take on too much negativity at this point time. I’m just trying to be positive,” he pointed out.
“Everybody is going go have their views at the end of the day but at the same time my main focus is trying to get this unit as one and at the same time try and get some results.
“A lot of people will be tuned into the game so we will try and do our best and hopefully the support will still be there … we will be looking forward to it.”
Gayle has also come in for criticism over his style of leadership, with many of his detractors contending his languid, laidback demeanor was not well suited to the role of captain.
The aggressive left-handed opener said, however, this personality trait was not indicative of his lack of commitment to the game.
“A lot of people show their expressions differently and I’m one of those particular persons [who are laidback],” he explained.
“As a captain you have to have that extra jive towards the players but at the same time whenever it is work time, everybody is aware of that and know what is the situation and then we have to work as one and put negativity aside.
“[Cricket] is my job and I’m very passionate about doing my job in whatever area as a player. You might not see it in my different expressions. Like (Dwayne) Bravo would get a wicket and the type of celebrations he would do, I wouldn’t actually do those sort of things.
“But … I’m very passionate in whatever I do. You might not see it outside but deep down inside I’ll represent West Indies to the fullest.
He added: “I’ve represented West Indies with one leg and one hand before [and] the majority of people wouldn’t have done those things but it seems [like people] don’t remember those things. I’m a person who gives it their all when I’m in the middle.”
West Indies left here Tuesday for Australia where they will clash with the hosts in Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
They open their tour with a four-day match against Queensland starting next Wednesday before the first Test bowls off in Brisbane eight days later.
The regional side will then play Tests in Adelaide (December 4-8) and in Perth (December 16-20) before returning home just before Christmas Day.