The controversial Chris Gayle is back on the West Indies Cricket team after an absence of one year. The opener will play with the team in the upcoming One Day Internationals (ODIs) in England, carded to begin June 13.
Gayle has been in a drawn-out squabble with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) over wages and contract but has in recent times resolved the matter.
Chairman of the Selection Panel, Clyde Butts said on Monday that he was happy to have Gayle back on the team.
“Chris is a player of proven quality and we are looking forward to him adding this dimension to the side and his contributions as a senior member of the squad.”
The other members of the quad include:
Darren Sammy – Captain Dwayne Bravo – Vice Captain Tino Best Darren Bravo Johnson Charles Fidel Edwards Chris Gayle Sunil Narine Kieron Pollard Denesh Ramdin – Wicketkeeper Ravi Rampaul Andre Russell Marlon Samuels Lendl Simmons Dwayne Smith
Butts said he believes this squad represents a “balanced combination of young rising players like Sunil Narine in the bowling department and Johnson Charles in the top order of the batting in addition to the well-known seasoned internationals”.
ODI Series Schedule
June 13: West Indies v Middlesex – Lord’s, London June 16: 1st One Day International – The Ageas Bowl, Southampton June 19: 2nd One Day International (d/n) – Kia Oval, London June 22: 3rd One Day International – Headingley Carnegie, LeedsTwenty20 International
June 24: Twenty20 International – Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Gayle can really make a difference, and with Sunil Narine also there I hope Windies pack a punch.. If he can succeed on the pitches of England which will be much different from Indian pitches
A brilliant writeup on Narine’s presence, who I think is more critical can be found at http://ow.ly/bmYLO