Universe Boss: Gearing up for the final hurrah
In the last couple of weeks, there has been a buzz in the Cricketing World about Chris Gayle's retirement after the forthcoming World Cup in England. The originator of the speculation was the man himself who has given himself a sobriquet "Universe Boss".
The news came during the recently concluded 50 over tournament between hosts West Indies and England. In a pre-tournament interview, Gayle spoke candidly about his retirement and the series against England would be his last International outing at home.
Memorable final Home Series
The big Jamaican made his last tournament at home a memorable one for himself and his fans. In a series where it rained sixes from both sides, Gayle swung his bat towards all corners of the ground sending the cherry out of the park at his own will and with ultimate ease.
In the first match at Bridgetown, Gayle scored 135 in 129 balls hitting 12 maximums. He helped WI create the record of most number of sixes in an innings as they posted the total of 360/8 in 50 overs! But England chased it down with the help of quickfire centuries of Jason Roy and Joe Root.
The form continued in the second match as well when the big Jamaican gave a quick start to his team with a 62 ball 50. By the time he did a "swing and miss" against Adil Rashid's delivery, he had already sent the white ball out of the park four times.
His teammate Shimron Hetmyer continued where Gayle had left and helped WI score 289/6 in 50 overs. Another Jamaican Sheldon Cottrell with his maiden 5 wicket hall ensured the victory for Caribbeans.
The two teams met again at St. George's in the fourth ODI as the third got washed away without any action As England broke the record of the most number of sixes (24) just within a week to post a huge 418/6, it was time for Gayle to go on a rampage!
His stay at the crease seemed to be making the target of 419 and the record number of 24 sixes look lighter. The whirlwind knock of a 97-ball 162 with 14 sixes had brought WI very close to victory and almost near to regain the record of sixes.
In the final ODI when his bowling teammates reduced England for a paltry 113, Gayle rubbed further salt on the visitor's wounds by hitting 77 runs in just 27 balls and sending the ball 9 times out of the Gros Islet park.
Gayle helped his team to chase down the total in just over 12 overs and level the series 2-2. The impact was so much that the match was completed well within the official lunch time handing England one of their worst ODI defeats.
Record for Six-hitting
It was a series where the "Universe Boss" showed his bossism by scoring 424 runs in just four innings at the strike rate of 134.6 and winning "Player of the Series" award. En-route, he entered the club of 10000 ODI runs becoming the second Caribbean after Brian Lara.
But the incredible feat was becoming the proud owner of the record for hitting the most number of sixes (39) in an ODI series. That too at the age of 39!
Though he talked about "un-retirement" in the mid of the series, he himself chose to end the speculation by saluting the cheering home crowd all around the stadium at the end of the final ODI at Gros Islet.
In a post-tournament interview, when asked if the series was his best, the big man politely pointed to the series he played in India under Carl Hooper. In the seven-match series played in Nov 2002, Gayle had scored 455 runs at an average of 65 with the help of three centuries.
Now as the World Cup is approaching, this great come back of Gayle into Cricket West Indies scheme of things is heartening for Caribbean fans. But on the other hand, it looks equally threatening for the other participating teams!
It would be a great thing for cricket if "Universe Boss" carries this roaring form into World Cup and help Windies regain the lost glory in 50 over format. It would be a fitting end for one of the most entertaining careers in world cricket.