England v West Indies 2009 / Features
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England v West Indies, 2nd npower Test, Durham
Amber lights at the Riverside
Chris Gayle has said that he wasn't looking to remain the West Indies captain for a long period of time and would be "giving it up shortly" because of the pressure the job entailed
Andrew McGlashan at Chester-le-Street
May 13, 2009
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Match home : England v West Indies, 2nd Test, Chester-le-Street
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Chris Gayle
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Although ticket sales for the opening day of the second Test have improved since yesterday's figure of 3000, Chester-le-Street won't be bursting at the seams when the action starts on Thursday. The punters are clearly beginning to pick and choose which matches they attend and, if Chris Gayle's comments are anything to go by, some players will soon be following a similar path.
His interview with a UK national newspaper has set another warning light flashing about the future and primacy of Test cricket. Although he attempted to downgrade his view that he "wouldn't be so sad" if Tests vanished in favour of Twenty20s, by saying his comments were meant from his personal point of view, it is another damaging blow for a sport that is battling to maintain a relevance.
The fact that Gayle has had to leave his IPL deal to play in cold, early-season English conditions, in a Test series shoe-horned into the calender, has clearly not gone down well, despite his latest effort to convince otherwise. "I'm happy to be here right now to try and retain the trophy," a rather weary-looking Gayle said as he responded to his comments.
He claimed the interview in The Guardian had been "misquoted and misinterpreted" which is the usual response from a sportsman who wants to back himself out of a corner. However, he didn't try to alter his comments, rather just clarify that he was talking about himself and not Test cricket as a whole.
"I don't see myself playing Tests for any long period of time, but I think Test cricket will always be there. Twenty20 has come on board and it's made a huge impact on the world, it's brilliant, games have been sold out and it has taken the place by storm. I look at Test cricket differently, I don't see it as long term for me, just for me, I'm just speaking about myself."
What should come as a concern for those running the game and trying to cram in endless international fixtures to justify television deals is Gayle's reasoning. "There's a lot of cricket being played and I've started to develop a lot of injuries," he said. "It takes a toll on your body and your mental strength so at some stage you aren't going to go on forever. You have to choose what you are going to do as a person.
"It's something I've discussed before, maybe not in the media, but I've talked to friends and players about it. It's not like I've just thought about it overnight."
However, as one of nine current Test captains in the world game, Gayle needs to remember that his role goes beyond the personal. It shouldn't just be about the here and now for him, but also the bigger picture. Not everyone is going to make it as a millionaire Twenty20 star and Gayle, as one of the most flamboyant batsman of his generation, should be able to play a role in promoting the five-day game.
Andrew Strauss is one such player who is likely to miss the Twenty20 revolution and made comments before the Lord's Test that he wouldn't allow an England player to arrive 48 hours before a match. Gayle hit back in the newspaper interview, but tried to ease any potential tensions by saying no disrespect was meant.
| "There's a lot of cricket being played and I've started to develop a lot of injuries. It takes a toll on your body and your mental strength so at some stage you aren't going to go on forever. You have to choose what you are going to do as a person." Chris Gayle ponders his Test future | |||
"It wasn't his concern," Gayle said. "I respect Strauss, I would never have any conflict with him. I just find it a bit strange that he touched on that sort of point and he should leave it alone. "Maybe he's under a lot of pressure. The Ashes series is huge.
"Maybe he tried to put the pressure on me to try to take a bit of pressure off him. I have respect for Strauss it's not like I'm trying to degrade him, I would never do that. Sometimes you just have to stand up for your rights."
Strauss maintained there were no tensions and suggested that any problems the West Indies captain had were not his problem, but admitted he had concerns about the health of Test cricket. "We haven't been sitting in the bar telling tales of our lives but our relationship has been pretty good. I've had no problems with him up until now. If he is uncomfortable with what's gone on in the last couple of weeks that's an issue for him rather than myself.
"It [Test cricket] is under pressure," he added. "I think it is important we play good Test cricket to make people aware of what a good format it is and how entertaining it can be. It's the only game that really tests out your temperament, your technique, your hunger, your bravery, all those aspects of the game."
That seems an opportune moment to bring this back to the actual game; a Test match, the ultimate format. West Indies' game fell away so rapidly at Lord's that it was difficult to recognise the team that fought so hard in the Caribbean. Now with Gayle's comments ringing in their ears it's hardly the motivational stand they needed from their captain. "The guys know the situation. It won't affect us, we are all big men," he said.
Strauss, however, was hoping the furore will take Gayle's mind off the serious matter in hand. "He is always dangerous. He always plays the same way, hopefully he'll be slightly distracted tomorrow."
Gayle clearly won't be playing Test cricket much longer, although he laughed off the idea that this would be his final game. He said he still had a job to do in rebuilding this West Indies side and now would be a good time to show he really means it. At the moment Gayle's opinions appear the minority view, but the game needs to work out what it wants to be in the future. If players don't want to play, and people don't want to watch, then there really is trouble ahead.
Andrew McGlashan is assistant editor of Cricinfo
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Assistant Editor Andrew arrived at Cricinfo in 2004 via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing career as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan equally.
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PierreLebrun what an intollerasnt person you are. I don't like or understand grand opera, but it not "forced down my throat" so I even though I prefer shorter froms of music , I know that there are some people who do like grand opera so I don't think that it should be "abandoned" and they be forced to listen to the Cheeky Girls. This is what is known as an analogy, perhaps you can get an adult to explain it to you. Ok I'll try another one: Football (Association/Soccer)is the most popular team sport in the world. Therfore all other team sports (Rugby, Cricket, Aussie Rules, Hockey, Baseball, Sychronized Swimming, every other sport should be "abandodned" because they are not as popular as football. Anyone who would like to a see a sport other than football once in while can be ridiculled as some tweed wearing old buffer out of touch with the modern world. In most advanced and liberal societies , tolerence and diversity are generally viewwed as being good things.
Posted by PierreLebrun on (May 14 2009, 10:49 AM GMT)the solution is obvious. abandon test cricket! stop forcing it down our throats, like it's some kind of medicine that tastes bad but is meant to be good for us. the only test in Test Cricket is a test of people's patience. if English people want it, let them play each other! that's what the counties are for. more people watch oxford united than turn out to watch test cricket this is so embarrassingly exposing the worst of the English character...!!! can't deal with change or understand what ordinary people want, then appeal to some higher force like the Queen Mum! hilarious!
Posted by KapilKurlekar on (May 14 2009, 10:25 AM GMT)There just has to be a window for IPL from next season and nothing should be done during during that time. No Elections, no mundane England-West-Indies test series(especially after England have lost a test series and Kevin Pietersen is out of form). England will try and manipulate the FTP such that there is some series that clashes with the IPL, because Lalit Modi has taken a sport "invented" by the English to get young people in to watch the game and made a global cricketing marvel with that. English board is angry that this has happened. Moreover there are no crowds for the English Domestic Twenty20 and absolutely none for tests played in England. Let all the cricketers play in the IPL. Let them be rich rather than just the boards getting rich. IPL,BCCI and Lalit Modi should also make some accommodations to pay the boards for the services of their players. This way everyone is happy and Test Cricket will live on.Please get rid of 50 over game. Play more 20-20 instead. 50-50 is boring
Posted by PURO on (May 14 2009, 10:01 AM GMT)Let us not underestimate the importance of Test cricket.At the moment it seems logical to disregard it as the shorter versions sell and command a lot of support, but spare a thought for all young cricketers who are yet to make a mark on the big stage, they need test cricket to showcase their talents in terms of technique, temperament, and bravery.Look at Phill Hughes, Onions, there have all been products of test cricket, and they have made names for themselves and Test cricket is an important piece of puzzle, and as such all formats of the game must work reciprocaly.After all players like Gayle,Tendulkar, Gilchrist etc would not have made it if it was not for test cricket.
Posted by AndieRae606 on (May 14 2009, 09:08 AM GMT)I adore this argument; so evidently there are players who prefer the T20 format over Tests just as there are followers who do likewise. So what? There are also followers like me who enjoy all the formats. The one thing I dislike is the stance of some, that T20 will 'kill' Tests, stated almost joyfully, as if they would like that to happen. T20 would not exist if it were not for test cricket and Tests provide T20 its stars. It's almost like wishing microwaved TV dinners would 'kill' home cooking. Oh look, it already did. And everyone's so much healthier for that, right?... (as for aditya's comment that the Test conditions at Lord's not being fit, that was very very funny. Cold stopped play. Love it. And will gladly help you search for your lost eye...)
Posted by mrcrazyman95 on (May 14 2009, 07:29 AM GMT)kingtal is right 50 over NEEDS to go. i see no entertainment in it. scrap it so that 20/20 and tests can survive.
Posted by PottedLambShanks on (May 14 2009, 07:07 AM GMT)"a sport that is battling to maintain a relevance. " Ask yourself if you still believe that on Sat 18th July when the sun is shining on a packed Lord's.
Posted by nashforwi on (May 14 2009, 06:59 AM GMT)This article is another piece of sensationalist rubbish, just like the Guardian article, the BBC story, and the Sky soundbites. I saw the Sky interview live, but this cricinfo article, and all English-influenced media choose to ignore it. If you want to know what gayle really thinks, the WICB is a more reliable source of news: http://www.windiescricket.com/index.cfm?objectid=3B1FEB2A-F16A-60A4-EBC76C4F6E70174E&pageid=E1288B36-978D-2775-14F0DFBD69B69AC4&category=B405F23E-DD8F-1BCD-4F089D9A8A63C9F9 It says something about you guys, that we have to rely on the WICB for proper news! In essence, Gayle said he prefers 20/20 cricket to Test cricket, but is strongly committed to both. I saw the Sky TV interview live, and that's what he said. But Sky chose to ignore those statements in subsequent soundbites, that were sensationalist and misleading. Just like you guys....
Posted by maverick.anupam on (May 14 2009, 06:44 AM GMT)Which is a better site. Lee bowling at full tilt on a bouncy wicket to Tendulkar in a test match or a nobody getting smashed at 15 runs per over in IPL. Can a sight be better for a true crciket fan than Warne weaving his magic to Lara in the rough outside off stump or vowling a batsman behind his legs. IPL is just a fad. Very soon baseball syle hitting in cricket will lose its vigour because of sameness of bowlers getting smashed around the park. Cricket is served most when there is balance between bat & ball. Here ICC comes in. The pitches in test cricket should become more favorable to bowlers. No sight will be more intriguing than a top class bowler against a world class batsman fighting it out.
Posted by akelumw on (May 14 2009, 05:37 AM GMT)The ICC should take the responsibility for this whole saga. The T20 was just a game for fun till the T20 world cup in 2007. Till then teams had just a T20 game per tour & that's for fun. We've seen Aussies & Kiwis were wearing funny suits & hair styles in some of these earlier matches & it was all for fun It's emphasized by Ponting just before T20 WC "ICC has made a format which is for fun in to a serious game". That's where T20 came to world prominence specially with India winning the WC it had taken them by storm & rest is history. Therefore ICC must be held responsible for this matter giving unnecessary prominence for T20 by staging a WC just after the ODI WC April 2007. Now they stage T20 WC every 2 years it'll sure to hamper the other formats even worse. Don't be surprised if ICC hold a six a side WC in future and make it an annual event. ICC just want to earn money & with India in to the game big time with IPL ICC even opened a window for it. ICC must be the culprit of all this.