Fast bowling legend Sir Curtly Ambrose says Chris Gayle should bow out gracefully after this World Cup and move forward instead of saying that he would play “maybe a Test match against India” which is his plan after the World Cup.
Ambrose has criticized the idea of Gayle returning for a farewell Test later this year against India, contending the veteran’s lack of fitness ruled him out of contention for the longest format.
Gayle, 39, announced he would retire from One-Day Internationals (ODIs) following the ongoing World Cup but had a change of heart recently, saying he would play a Test match against India and then he would definitely play the ODIs.
Sir Curtly said while Gayle had enjoyed a stellar career, the time had come to move on.
“Let me tell you something, one word; nonsense,” Sir Curtly on BBC’s Test match special broadcast.
“He hasn’t played a Test match for five years, he can barely make it an ODI… I mean a Test match is five days, six hours every day — it’s grueling. What kind of message would it send to one of the opening batsmen?” Sir Curtly said.
The former fast bowler said Gayle has done extremely well for West Indies in world cricket… “but you must bow out. Move forward.”
Gayle played the last of his 105 Tests five years ago but has never announced his retirement from the longest format of the game.
He has scored 7,214 runs at an average of 42 with 15 centuries and is only one of four players in history to score two triple centuries.
However, the World Cup, which was intended to be his swansong has been a disappointment, scoring just 250 runs at an average of 33.
