Somerset have made the most high-profile signing to date for this year's NatWest T20 Blast by agreeing a short-term deal with Chris Gayle between his IPL and CPL commitments. Gayle could play as many as six games in a three-week period in May and June.

One of the most feared batsman in the T20 format and scorer of the fastest hundred, Gayle will arrive at Somerset after his IPL stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore is over - possibly in time for Taunton's first night of the Blast, on May 22, if RCB do not make the knockout stages. His final appearance is scheduled to be at Cardiff on June 13.

Gayle has been battling a back injury, which has ruled him out of West Indies' Test series against England next month, but he seems to have little difficulty with T20 commitments. West Indies were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the World Cup, giving Gayle a couple of weeks' rest before the IPL, which will be followed by his Somerset spell and then the Caribbean Premier League with the Jamaica Tallawahs.

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this shyte is funny

the man was hardly able to run a single

In reply to Cuter
He can afford not to run singles in T20.

In reply to Cuter

think you should call the people and tell them not to waste their money!

In reply to number09

singles are even more important in T/20

every ball counts

IMO the fact that T/20 is a much faster version than ODI it takes more from you

In reply to Cuter
Not the way CHG plays

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

This is ridiculous. He needs to get his back right tans that won't happen when he's playing non stop. He should never be selected for west indies again unless it's test cricket. He should simply retire as he's not showing any commitment to wi by getting himself right for England or Australia tight after.

I'm ok with him choosing T20s, but simply say it and retire from test cricket and odi.

In reply to jballer84

He wont be playing vs Eng.

...so why are you so angry?

They have been grooming `replacements` for 15 yrs...lets see if they are `ready`

In reply to Cleg

These clowns act as if Gayle is putting a gun to the selectors' heads and forcing them to pick him.

I am sure the remarkable Devon Smith will be a more than adequate replacement because he has all the 'commitment'-if not much skill-required to play for West Indies' evolving star team!

In reply to mitch44... started to wonder if is CHG he talking about ... singles, really?

In reply to jacksprat...

... them going say yes, Portia did it.

In reply to natty_forever

At least in part, didn't she tho?

In reply to imusic... technically. However, that's because the manner in which they (WICB) go about their bizniz. I am sure if CHG was brought before a DC and found guilty, and sentenced, not a peep would be heard. Well outside the MB.

In reply to Cleg

We cannot improve with these guys being in and out as they please. Isn't the wisden trophy important?

The board needs to get this situation under control and make playing for the west indies more attractive as no one is patriotic these days. Even if they go with younger players and discard these fellas, as soon as the young players are established and in demand, we will lose them also.

Darren Bravo for eg. would probably be doing the same thing if his T20 career had taken off already. He's a good hitter, so it's probably only a matter of time, when/if he learns to rotate the strike.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

By the time Gayle done IVA Richards' exploits at Taunton will be but a footnote in history

In reply to natty_forever

You not going to get any argument from me about the manner in which WICBCPA goes about their bizniz.

But put yourself in Portia shoes for a moment.

She and others went out on a limb (and more) for gayle. Reputations (for what it's worth) were put on the line advocating for him to return to the West Indies team.

And after all the bangarang....he appears to be cherry picking when he represents the WI?

I'm all for players looking after themselves. Their careers are short and they should maximize their earnings as much as possible. But don't string people along in the process.

Make a decision about your future in test cricket. From all reports, it was a struggle for gayle just to play in this world cup die to physical inssues with his back. So if he's so incapacitated and needs rest, why play IPL and for Somerset?

The OPTIC isn't good. I think you can see that as well.

In reply to jballer84

Darren Bravo has declined at least one IPL offer to concentrate on WI cricket.

Make another example.

Gayle has chosen not to accept a retainer contract from the WICB.

He is 35 and started playing for the West Indies 15 years ago.

If you not on retainer, you certainly free to do what you want.

Surely, you guys can give Gayle's name a rest.

Something is seriously wrong when 15 Years later, West Indies still does not have 1 reliable opener in Test cricket.

It's not Gayle that is the problem. The problem is the cupboard is bare, and they still struggling to find a next Gayle.

In reply to jballer84

Ask the WICB.

The last Cappo to win it was CHG.

The WICB IMMEDIATELY handed it back to Eng.

...and I doubt we will ever see it again!!!

In reply to imusic

Well Devon Smith has another bite at retiring him.

Gwaan Gayle add to your 15M net worth. Triple Century outlet needed in Mobay.

In reply to bimbo

That's definitely another way to look at it.

Gayle's continued absence from the longer form of the game provides opportunities for others to "eat a food".

Is not his fault that they're not grasping it. If 2 openers were to come along and be successful to the point where he couldn't command a place on the team, he could have no complaints.

Brathwaite has shown promise. No one else yet has come close to rendering Gayle surplus to requirements.

It is a blessing that Chris isn't on the England Test tour. It is a well known secret (to some of us) that he doesn't turn up to West Indies training and when he does, he certainly doesn't do what the other players are expected to do and that was years before any bad back issue.

It is a blessing that the newest crop of youngsters in the WI training camp do not have to witness this lack of commitment and outright laziness, because many young players have been unfortunate enough to witness his behaviour on previous tours and camps. Not even the Coach could make this man train.

If only Chris put the same passion and delight into WI Cricket that he puts into his Instagram posts featuring an endless stream of drinking, partying, planes, yachts, countless women etc, the Press wouldn't be writing a myriad of articles (particularly lately) on his lack of discipline and dedication, to add further salt to West Indies Cricket's deepening wounds. One thing is for certain though - you can bet anything he will be training at Somerset as the English will not tolerate that nonsense (reference a certain loud-mouth close friend of Chris' who goes by the name of Kevin Pietersen) And the saddest thing is - Chris isn't the only one going off to play in England in place of WI Cricket...