Hard-hitting batsman West Indies opener Chris Gayle says he will not be walking away from international cricket anytime soon.

Gayle, speaking on a Reggae Sumfest-produced programme on Saturday night, said he is not about to put down his bat.

"Because a lot of people talking, I am going to give them five more years of international cricket," Gayle said, when asked what he plans to do after he retires from the sport. The 39-year-old Jamaican was expected to announce his retirement from international cricket following the ICC World Cup in England.  However, he continues to suggest that he is not ready to leave the game.

Read more at the Jamaica Star 

Full Story

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

He's only saying that in an attempt to send some peeps to the mad house.

When Gayle started playing international cricket at age 19, many said he wouldn't last a year. Or maybe they knew his carrier would outlast their favorites, but only wished it wouldn't.

Wrong

In reply to Drapsey

In reply to WIForever

After 5 years..

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

There must be another record here for number of Major teams represented.

In reply to Drapsey

Whenever it ends, he can claim to have had one hell of a run.

In reply to Drapsey

Depends on your definition of major.

In reply to WICFan

I emulated Narper here and did a copy/paste from the cricket authority, ESPN CricInfo.

In reply to Drapsey

Like I said, depends on your definition.

In reply to CaribbeanCricket.com

Is Gayle chief of selectors now?
He is tying to get into the heads of fellow Jamaicans Haynes and Adams.

Questioned at sumfest and them expect rational answers. Ok!

However Chris, you are required to be playing cricketing in the format (4dayfor test etc) to be selected.


Oh, and show form.

When Chris Gayle's early cricket career was threatened by an irregular heart rhythm , he took the necessary steps (surgery) to correct it.

Since then he has piled up some amazing statistics. And he has kept fit mainly by regular visits to the gym where he engages in rigorous exercise.

He continues to show surprising nimbleness in the field, whether at slip or in front of the bat.

Now nearing the twilight of that resplendent career, he has to contend with back problems. If as he says he thinks he can play another five years, I have no doubt that he will bring the same determination to it as he has done all his cricketing days.

//

Uniboss is talking bout hitting the 'sixes'

BUT why only 5 more years?

In reply to Ewart

Maybe he is delusional

Can he withstand the intense scrutiny and calls for his retirement he will be subjected to if and when he fails a few times in succession? If he can't then this could develop into a nasty war of words in the media. Some people don't know when to quit and so the forces that be have to quit them.
Incidentally as with another senior guy who was pushed out, I feel, if Shiv had taken control of the lower order and face most of the batting he would have scored the necessary runs to easily become the WI highest run-getter and would have been able to retire on his own terms.
I guess I am saying that some people want to cram in the twilight of their career what should have been done comfortably before. I am pretty sure for all Gayle's talk about being up there with the best he looked back at his career and stats and secretly found them somewhat wanting.

In reply to B16JP587S
Chris is not walking away from international cricket any time soon but international cricket may walk away from him very soon. I wonder if he has some major contract now why he is saying that? His stated ambition is to score a third triple century. Will he get that opportunity? I still think he has it in him for another century but a third??????. Then again who will stand with him? Hope would run him out. Hety will score 50 and get out. Chase will get impatient. The others cannot hang around long. Oh Holder just may hold the other end because he wants/needs a senior player in his team. And there is Braff but his painting is not so good theses days. For me, I wish he could get that triple.

Seems like Gayle is really keen on padding those stats. He's still behind Lara's ODI mark for starters.

Well, hey. If CWI wants him I guess they'll have him... even if it means they won't find out if a Campbell/Lewis (or some other combo) is viable at international level going forward. C'est la vie.

Mad dem, Crampy!

I think Gayle is motivated to break the record of most ODI runs by a WI bat, which would be quite the acheivement. He'll re-retire once that is in the bank.

In reply to Kurt

Good to see you breds.


//

As long as he could earn it on merit.

In reply to Kurt

Isn't it sad though that after all these years in international cricket (count them, 20 years), Gayle is still locked in a struggle to be recognized as a great.

For me, having the record for most ODI tons as a West Indian is enough to qualify him as such. But if you add his double triple test scores that placed him in the exclusive club with the likes of Brian Lara and Sir Don Bradman, then there should be no doubt about his greatness.

For him to add most ODI runs as a West Indian to his resume, in my opinion, is just his way of putting a sock in the mouths of those shameless detractors.

Mad dem, Crampy!

Its all about passing Lara total of runs, however, Lara would have played and batted less matches and innings than Gayle with a higher average.

Gayle had his request fulfilled just concluded CWC where he was a disappointment and should give an opportunity to a younger player as the team and CWI looks towards the rebuilding process. This is where we question the current and pass selectors and the Admin in reference to many years of geographic discrimination that has plagued Windies cricket.

In reply to azadtnt

Problem is, and has always been, younger does not mean better.

And in this case, it is almost as far as the east is from the west.

//

In reply to azadtnt

Gayle must be suffering inferiority complex. For all he has done over the past 20 years, on and off the cricket field, he is still not recognized by some as a 'great'. He looks at this as a final opportunity to convince the skeptics.

In an effort to convince him to go 'gracefully', we should start a movement to intreat those skeptics to elevate their stance/opinion on his greatness.

That should do it.

In reply to Drapsey

I see he closed 333.

In reply to Kurt

Yes I alluded to that earlier. The World Cup was to have been Gayle's tournament to break Lara's mark, however he finished shy of it.

So here we are.