This is my last ODI series in the Caribbean, Gayle says after England ODIs
Chris Gayle. -ICC
||Desk report||
Chris Gayle said that the recently concluded five-match ODI series against England was his last ODIs in the Caribbean. The veteran, who announced his retirement after the upcoming World Cup and later hinted to extend his career, had taken part in the recently concluded ODIs as his World Cup preparation and ended the camp with amazing records of most sixes and highest runs.
“This is my last ODI series in the Caribbean. So, I was giving the fans a nice wave,” Gayle said after the last match.
“Right through the tournament, they have been superb from both sides: West Indies and England sides. It would be nice if it was in Jamaica, but the crowds have been fantastic. It’s been an honour to wear the crest and entertain the people around the Caribbean. West Indies is No. 1,” he added.
Chris Gayle became the Man of the Series with the highest 424 runs including two fifties and two centuries with strike-rate of 134.17. He also knocked the fastest half-century by a Windies batsman in ODI history during the final ODI. The Caribbean hit the most number of sixes in a series 39.
“This is the best achievement you can have in the Caribbean as a cricketer. This is the best thing, to be honest with you. Also, we’ll get a bit of respect going into the World Cup,” the Caribbean said.
Gayle believed that he might never have played better before in a home series. And even “at 60”, he would still think of scoring “against the best bowlers in the world.”
“It’s the best I’ve played in my home conditions and I’m happy and grateful for that. I’m not surprised by how well I’ve done. Or the number of sixes I hit... Sixes come along. It’s just natural, to be honest. In T20s, I score a lot of sixes as well, but this is the first time in an ODI series. To hit 39 sixes aged 39 is fantastic from a personal point of view. But my mindset is that, even when I’m 60, I’ll still think I can do it and score runs against the best bowlers in the world. That will never change,” Gayle concluded.
