ODI: Whirlwind Gayle to Storm Back to Headingley

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The West Indies are in England this summer as they continue their international resurgence under the captaincy of Darren Sammy and it looks likely that Chris Gayle, the big hitting left hander, will be back in his country’s colours at Headingley. The former captain has shown an ability to take opposition attacks apart so expect fireworks in Leeds on 22 June!

It’s been a love-hate relationship between the 32-year-old Jamaican and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of late which has culminated in the player asking the WICB whether he would be selected for the summer’s One-Day International leg so he could inform Somerset whether he would be able to fulfil his commitment to them to play t20 cricket as an overseas player.

Ernest Hilaire, the WICB chief executive, subsequently accused Gayle of reneging on his commitment to the national team, suggesting that he was treating Somerset as his priority and going against a commitment he’d made to put his country first once the Indian Premier League (IPL) had reached its conclusion.

Gayle has been playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in India and scored 433 runs at an average of 48.11 while smashing 31 sixes, by far the most by any one player. The IPL concludes on 27 May and would clear the way for Gayle to join the touring party ahead of the one-day matches.

The final act of the saga has seen Gayle openly committing himself to West Indies cricket and Ottis Gibson, the West Indies coach, saying that he would be definitely selected. Gayle has not played ODI cricket since the 2011 World Cup so his inclusion in the squad would provoke a huge amount of interested. His return alone would make the price of a ticket a worthwhile investment.

The West Indies play three One-Day Internationals and an International t20 fixture with Headingley hosting the ODI series climax.