LONDON, CMC – Fast bowling legend Sir Curtly Ambrose has rubbished the idea of Chris Gayle returning for a farewell Test later this year against India, contending the veteran opener’s lack of fitness has ruled him out of contention for the longest format.
The 39-year Gayle announced he would retire from One-Day Internationals following the ongoing World Cup but had a change of heart last week, saying he would play “maybe a Test match against India and then I’ll … definitely play the ODIs. That’s my plan after World Cup.”
Sir Curtly said while Gayle had enjoyed a stellar career, the time had come to move on.
“Let me tell you something, one word; nonsense,” Sir Curtly said on the BBC’s Test Match Special podcast.
“He hasn’t played a Test match for five years, he can barely make it in an ODI … I mean a Test match is five days, six hours every day – it’s gruelling.
“What kind of message would it send to one of the opening batsmen? ‘It’s a farewell game for Chris Gayle so sit this one out’ – that is utter nonsense.
“He should bow out of this World Cup gracefully. He’s done extremely well for West Indies in world cricket … but you bow out. Move forward.”
Gayle played the last of his 103 Tests five years ago but has never announced his retirement from the longest format.
He has scored 7214 runs at an average of 42 with 15 hundreds, and is one of only four players in history to score two triple centuries.
The Jamaican returned to the ODI side earlier this year for the England rubber, plundering 424 runs in a Man-of-the-Series performance. However, the World Cup which was intended to be his swansong has been a disappointment, yielding just 235 runs at an average of 33.
