The Gayle Conundrum

On the one hand you have Jacques Kallis, on the other Chris Gayle. Together they remind one that there are many ways to play the game. And, also, that individual brilliance may manifest itself in ways that do not always help the team as much as quieter, more sustained application might.

That may seem a churlish observation since one has just watched Chris Gayle score 102 off a mere 70 deliveries. And in some ways it is churlish, not least because Gayle’s innings was one of the most thrilling one has seen in years. In terms of deliveries faced it was the fifth fastest century ever; if he could ever bat a full session he might one day score a 100 before lunch. There’s the rub: in 149 innings for the West Indies, Gayle has lasted more than 100 deliveries just 33 times. That’s not ideal for an opener, no matter how great the entertainment he provides.