Chris Gayle: T20's boa constrictor
In Open magazine, Akshay Sawai analyses Chris Gayle's dominance in Twenty20 cricket
05-May-2013
In Open magazine, Akshay Sawai likens Chris Gayle's fearsome dominance of Twenty20 cricket to a satiated boa constrictor, saying that behind the apparent stupor on the field, Gayle possesses enough power to change the nature of a game in a matter of a few overs.
Why deny the ball the pleasure of running into the arms of the sponsor logos at the boundary? Much easier to wipe out the deficit with a six. When ends change, Gayle is among the last to reach his new position. He shows no hurry when he takes off his cap to smooth down his hair.
But when he bats, the 33-year-old is explosive. The match changes in a few shakes of his tail. T20 is today cricket's most economically viable format, and Gayle, its deity. Or 'World Boss', as he calls himself on Twitter. Top scorer IPL 2011? Chris Henry Gayle. Top scorer IPL 2012? Chris Henry Gayle. One of the key components of West Indies' victory in the World T20 last year? Gayle again, thank you.