SYDNEY – West Indies batting star Chris Gayle has come under fire from an opposing captain after another failure for Sydney Thunder in the Australian Big Bash.
The big-hitting left-hander scored just nine runs as the Thunder extended their winless streak to six games with a four-wicket loss to Sydney Sixers, who had West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine in their line-up on Sunday.
Sixers skipper Brad Haddin, who was one of Gayle’s two wickets in the game, hit out at the Jamaican following the result at Stadium Australia.
“He’s been all talk so far this tournament and they haven’t won a game,” said Haddin, who was involved in verbal byplay with Gayle before he was dismissed for 18.
“It’s disappointing to get out then. I was feeling pretty good but at least the Thunder fans have seen Chris Gayle do something for his money.”
Gayle, who celebrated with his now characteristic Gangnam Style dance after dismissing Haddin, downplayed the comments.
“I’ve done a lot for [the Thunder] from last year,” he said.
Gayle also responded on social network Twitter yesterday, advising Haddin to “stop watch my money and watch himself!!”
“Not my fault he ain’t good as I am even if I bat right hand!!!”
The tweets had been removed by late yesterday.
Gayle arrived at Thunder in a reported AUS$250 000 (US$259 157) deal but has scraped together just 70 runs from five innings.
His latest failure came when he was yorked by left-arm seamer Josh Lalor in the fifth over as Thunder, choosing to bat first, tallied 132 for six off their 20 overs. Usman Khawaja top-scored with 66 not out from 47 balls while Narine picked up one for 23 from four overs.
In reply, Sixers reached their target with a full over to spare, thanks to an unbeaten 51 from Daniel Hughes.
Gayle, who opened the bowling, conceded just 17 runs from four overs of tight off-spin.
Meanwhile, New Zealand side Central Districts have quashed reports that Gayle will be brought in for the final two games of the country’s domestic Twenty20 Championship.
The Stags have lost all three matches of the competition and are in a dire need of a lift, especially after their English star Peter Trego suffered a stomach injury on Boxing Day that has ruled him out of the remainder of the competition.
There has been speculation Gayle would arrive from Australia late in the campaign but chief executive Hugh Henderson shot down these suggestions.
“It would be nice to have a guy like that coming in but from where I sit at the moment, there is no signed agreement with anyone and these things take ages,” he said. (CMC/AP)
