PERTH, Australia, CMC – Talismanic captain Chris Gayle was set to undergo scans on his injured left-side this morning, sparking doubts over his continued involvement in Twenty20 Big Bash and his availability for West Indies’ one-day tour here next month.
The left-handed batsman sustained a muscle pull while playing for Western Australia in a 29-run loss to South Australia in the second match of the domestic Twenty20 here Tuesday, and will anxiously await test results to find out the true nature of the injury.
Gayle belted a blistering 44 from 24 balls but was forced to leave the field during the fifth over of the innings at 40, when he injured himself attempting a big hit off medium pacer Mark Cleary.
He returned later in the innings but added just four from eight balls before being dismissed.
Western Australia’s captain Adam Voges admitted yesterday that if Gayle was ruled out for the rest of the tournament, it would be a massive loss for his side.
“It’s a pretty quick turnaround before our next game on New Year’s Day. If he is out, it’s going to be a huge loss but we’ll cross our fingers and wait and see,” Voges said.
“I batted with him for a while and he was in a fair bit of pain. He uses big heavy bats and he swings pretty hard. I think the whole of the WACA was pretty stoked with how he started.
“He showed tonight just how much of a valuable asset he is going to be for the Twenty20s.”
West Indies selectors will follow Gayle’s progress with keen interest as the gallant 30-year-old is scheduled to lead the regional side back here on a tour that comprises five One-Day Internationals and two T20 Internationals next year. He was the leading batsman in the just concluded three-Test series, scoring 346 runs with two centuries – an undefeated 165 in the first Test in Brisbane and a sizzling 102 in Perth in the final Test.
Gayle is one of two current Windies players involved in the Big Bash, with all-rounder Dwayne Bravo also representing Victoria Bushrangers.
West Indies will bowl off their one-day tour next year with the first match in Melbourne on February 7 before going on to Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne again.
They will close out the tour with T20s in Hobart and Sydney.