Despite the recent spat between Sir Curtly Ambrose and Christopher Gayle, the legendary fast bowler is adamant that if Gayle is going to play, he is best suited opening the batting for the West Indies at the ongoing World T20 in the United Arab Emirates.
Heading to the World T20, the inclusion of the 42-year-old was heavily criticised, moreso the team’s persistence with him batting at three which has brought little success to date.
In two matches at the World T20, where the title defence is in shambles, Gayle has batted at three and four and made a combined 24 runs.
Sir Curtly, responding to questions on the Barbados radio programme, Mason and Guest, about changes he would make to the playing XI, said Gayle would be best suited to open the batting given his history of success atop the order.
“A couple of months ago when asked about Gayle and batting at number three, I did say I prefer him batting at the top of the order, but I don’t have a problem with him batting a number three, but on reflection on what I have seen him done batting a three over the last few months, he hardly fired so I believe he is better suited at the top of the order to try and make use of the Powerplay.”
Sir Curtly added, “It has not worked for him or the team batting at three.”
On Monday, West Indies Assistant Coach, Roddy Estwick has revealed that the team’s unsuccessful persistence with Gayle at number three has to do with their plans of combating the opposition’s spinners.
“We asked Chris to do a role and Chris is very experienced,” he stated in response to a question from News Room Sport.
“If you look at a lot of the teams, they want to bowl their leg-spinners and we felt at number three gives him a chance to have a match-up against the spin attack,” the Barbadian added.
However, Gayle’s 14,301 runs, 22 centuries, 87 half-centuries, and a strike rate of 145.60, the majority of which came opening, highly suggests his role would be better suited in the opening slot.
Why does anybody think the players past is relevant? Gayle getting on…..is all.