West indies cricketer Chris Gayle has stirred controversy again on Monday in the Big Bash League. The Jamaican was in the news only last week for his sexist comments to Network Ten reporter Mel McLaughlin during a live interview.
Gayle refused to take an easy single during his match for the Melbourne Renegades against Sydney Thunder in a Big Bash clash. Commentators savaged him for turning his back to his fellow opening batsman Tom Cooper who was keen to take a run.
“You wouldn’t want to get out now,” Mark Waugh said menacingly.
The big batsman struck Clint McKay down to long on during his stay of 28 runs off 20 balls to bring about this controversial moment, and was dismissed soon after playing a half-hearted shot.
Unbelievable, ridiculous cricket: Ponting
A bemused Ricky Ponting said, “I can’t believe what I’ve just seen there. This is the most unbelievable, ridiculous cricket I’ve ever seen. Sometimes in cricket and in life you get what you deserve, and he got what he deserved there. What sort of message does that send to the boys on the sideline?”
A similarly amazed Mark Waugh said, “That’s what you get when you don’t run. We can’t work it out so you’d have to ask him why he didn’t take the single,” after the left hander played a half-hearted pull short the very next delivery, only to be caught by Fawad Ahmed.
Teammate Tom Cooper said that Gayle’s refusal wasn’t a good bit of cricket.
Gayle politely declined interview requests after the match.
Rival team player Cameron White was, however, more understanding. When asked for comments the Australian said, “Obviously he thought he hit it straight to him, that’s why he didn’t run. Chris probably hasn’t got the amount of runs he would have liked, but what he does do is he gets us off to a start in a game, and we’re ten an over off the first three overs. It’s so under-rated the momentum shift straight away.
“If you asked him as well he’d be looking for that explosive 100 off 50 balls, but what he does do is get the momentum rolling, especially for me batting at three and Dwayne (Bravo) at four, you can take those one or two balls to get it rather than having to push the button straight away when you might not want to. Hopefully next Monday is his game.’’
Gayle was fined A$10,000 for his comments to McLaughlin last week. Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said no one should have to face such a situation.
Gayle's future in Australia's BBL next season is up in the air following the controversy.
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