Gayle relishing taking on England quicks: WI coach
West Indies’ Chris Gayle poses for a photograph with schoolchildren during nets at the The Ageas Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday. Reuters
Gayle has hinted he could retire from one-day Cricket after the World Cup and is eager to bow out on a high befitting his self-appointed “Universe Boss” moniker.
The 39-year-old proved there was plenty left in the tank when England toured the Caribbean earlier this year, smashing a record 39 sixes in a drawn five-match series.
The teams reconvene at the Hampshire Bowl on Friday, when Gayle can expect to face a barrage from Barbados-born Archer and Durham’s Wood.
Both men have hit 95 miles per-hour (153 kph) since the start of the tournament, but very little worries the big-hitting Jamaican.
“Chris thrives on that. I have known him since he was 16 and he has always loved a challenge,” said Collymore, the West Indies bowling coach.
“He has always enjoyed the challenge of fast bowling so I expect him to relish that. I have known Archer for a while and I saw Wood in the Caribbean.
“They are both very impressive, as we have seen throughout this tournament.”
Archer could have been bowling for the West Indies, had they persuaded him to pursue an international future with them, but even in his absence they are a frightening prospect.
In Oshane Thomas, Andre Russell, Sheldon Cottrell and Shannon Gabriel they have four seamers capable of making the batsmen hop, leaving Collymore to predict a fiery encounter.
“I did work with him (Archer) when he was a lot younger in Barbados. He was very impressive. The skills he shows now are ones he always had so we are expecting more of the same from him,” he said.
“But we have quick bowlers too so it should be a lively game.
“I don’t think many people like the short stuff, whether it is England or the West Indies. If you find a batsman that has a weakness to it, then you go after that.” Meanwhile, England head coach Trevor Bayliss is optimistic that Jos Buttler will be fit to play in Friday’s match.
Buttler hurt his right hip while batting in England’s win against Bangladesh, hobbling for the remainder of his knock and passing on wicketkeeping duties to Jonny Bairstow.
He was scheduled to join his team-mates during a net session at the Hampshire Bowl on Wednesday and Bayliss said: “Yes, he’s fine. He’ll be taking part in today’s practice fully.
“It was a little bit precautionary the other day. He said he could have kept, but he wasn’t really sure if he would be able to run after a high catch.”
Asked if Buttler might play as a specialist batsman to lighten his workload in the field, Bayliss kept his options open.
“I haven’t really thought about it. We’ll make that decision in the next day or so,” the Australian said.
“We’ll see how he pulls up and how he performs at practice. I’m expecting him to play a full part.”
Buttler has been in fine form at the World Cup, with scores of 18, 103 and 64 all coming at punishing strike rates. Should Buttler fail to prove his fitness, Hampshire’s James Vince would be the likeliest pick in his role as spare batsman. All-rounder Moeen Ali is also eyeing a return to the team after sitting out the 106-run victory over Bangladesh in Cardiff.
His off-breaks were deemed surplus to requirements in a seam-heavy attack at Sophia Gardens, but he could come back into consideration in Southampton.
Agencies
