LONDON, England, CMC – England star batsman Kevin Pietersen says he would love to see the return of opener Chris Gayle for the Trent Bridge Test starting here Friday.
Pietersen said Gayle’s presence would add a new dimension to the three-Test series which England lead 1-0 after winning the opening Lord’s Test by five wickets on Monday.
“It will be brilliant for the game if he comes back to play this Test match. He is an entertainer. People want to watch entertainers,” said Pietersen.
“They don’t want to watch people blocking the ball. They want to watch entertainers. He is one of those people that people will pay their money to watch him play and if he comes back that could be brilliant for the series.
“He is a superstar and he is one of my real good mates in cricket. I love the way he plays.”
Gayle, who has not played for West Indies in over a year because of a squabble with the West Indies Cricket Board, had made himself unavailable for selection for the three-Test series because of his Indian Premier League commitments.
His Royal Challengers Bangalore were knocked out of the competition on Sunday, however, sparking speculation of a late call up for the left-hander.
Gayle, one of the most experienced West Indies batsmen with over 6 000 runs from 91 Tests at an average of 41, last played a Test in December 2010.
