SA v WI 4th test

[Kirsty Harris]

Dear Father Christmas, If I can have only one Christmas present this year (well, other than England winning the Ashes, of course) please let Chris Gayle beat Brian 'Charles' Laras world record here, pretty please - I'll be a good, good girl all year!!!

[Maranello]

Really Kirsty? I am not sure I quite empathise here. Yes, I am keen to see records broken on a regular basis, and there would be some excitement I imagine on this record being broken yet again.

However, I am somewhat of an elitist, and I prefer the best records in the game to belong to its leading lighrs. Hence, it is more befitting for an all-time great such as Lara to have this record than a relative journeyman like Gayle, no disrespect to the latter of course. Similarly, I would have preferred if the record for most wickets in a single innings belonged to Warne, Marshall and maybe Akram and Gupte, and not to Anil Kumble and Laker as it currently stands.

Of course, it's good to see players of lesser ability being rewarded, but I am not in favour of consolation prizes in sport

So is there a personal reason for your antipathy to the joint-leading batsman of his generation? Did he bad-mouth Erith the last time he visited South-East London?

[Maranello]

Gayle out, a tired shot... poor lad, must be disappointed to be out just 25 odd overs before the close of play. He really did play splendidly, scoring 317 of the 512 his team has.

[Rachael]

So.. a triple century: are we impressed? I'd still not back him over any of a number of fairly ordinary Test bats... even Jayasuria and Flintoff inspire greater confidence. Thing is.. when you play as he does you really do seem to me to need to score a shedload more runs than more conventional players - and he just doesn't.

I should explain that: I'm suggesting these overgrown pinch-hitters (Hayden, Gibbs, Sehwag, Trescothick.. take your pick) contribute a lot less (as openers) than more orthodox players (like Langer).. because even when they've scored 30 or 40 through thick edges and riding their luck they've still barely started getting the team settled, seeing off the new ball, wearing down the bowlers and so on.

I'm not averse to these guys as openers.. but I do think it's daft comparing their averages with the averages of more controlled players who will often contribute more to a side with a resolute session of reassuringly composed batting in which they score just 12 or 14 runs than these pinch hitters do with a streaky 45 in which balls fly just wide of (or over) the slips or get dropped and in which is conducted to the sound of endless appeals.

Hayden at his best more than justified his approach.. Gayle needs to do a lot more than this to convince that he ever will.

[Trescothick]

Hard hitters like Hayden, Gayle and Trescothick all demoralise the bowling team because when your conceding runs like 8+ an over then the bowler gets disheartened and tries harder and concedes more runs.

This is why teams have them toi exploit the team massively and quite often they will do a good job.

Gayle is an outstanding player, mainly impressing with wickets these tests but now showing off his skills with the bat thsi test. I think he is proving he is no mere journeyman but one of the better test cricketers...

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Trescothick

Hard hitters like Hayden, Gayle and Trescothick all demoralise the bowling team because when your conceding runs like 8+ an over then the bowler gets disheartened and tries harder and concedes more runs.

Trouble is such an approach necessitates failing to show due respect to decent deliveries.. and is therefore least likely to succeed in exactly those situations where the opening batsman's role is most critical.

The "big hitters" (I'd say overgrown pinch hitters, noting their ODI background) basically back themselves to find their timing and start seeing the ball well before they get out.. and that's most likely to succeed when the opposing bowlers are second rate (so pretty much anyone's likely to score runs) or the pitch is such that batting is easy (ditto).

Like I say.. I've nothing AGAINST the overgrown pinch hitter.. so long as they routinely score a shedload of runs (and I mean averaging 50+ rather than 40+): unlike those more adaptable batsmen who generally wait for the bad ball and play each ball on its merits and accelerate only when established.. these pinch hitters really do bring nothing to the party except runs - and expectations should reflect that.

[soldier_sss]

After seeing a game of cricket today i have to confess this wicket has nothing for the bowlers, however for a man to field and bowl the first two days and then bat the next two days is quite remarkable..so well done chris gayle for your brilliant knock.Hopefully you can carry that form into the oneday for some huge shots there.

Anyway..this wicket is too flat foe test games so in my view and alot of people out there i would think the ground needs to change so it be even out.


After seeing the oneday line up today i wonder again and again...WHAT IS COREY COLLEYMORE DOING IN THIS TEAM.HE HAS DONE NOTHING FOR WESTINDIES AS I CAN STILL REMEMBER THAT ONE DAY AGAINST ENGLAND IN GUYANA. I MEAN COME ON COURTNEY BROWNE IS TO OLD ...WHY DON'T YOU GIVE DINESH RAMDIN A FIELD..SEE HOW HE DOES WITH ONE GAME..

As i leave well done again Mr Christopher Henry Gayle.....and good luck in the future..for i believe that you are the next man for that record..........

[Doink]

What an effort by Gayle! True, to field 2 days and to bat the next 2 days is a special effort- even on a batter's pitch! Now lets see how far Chanderpaul takes the Windies total to! I want to watch Narsingh Deonarine bat, have hear a lotta good things about him! Yes, its time for Courtney Browne to hang up his boots too, Carlton Baugh would be a good replacement, then soldier sss was talking about some Dinesh Ramdhin as well...who's he?

[Kirsty Harris]

Originally Posted by Maranello

So is there a personal reason for your antipathy to the joint-leading batsman of his generation? Did he bad-mouth Erith the last time he visited South-East London?

Lara constantly overshadows the rest of the team, to negative effect at times, in terms of confidence, IMO. No matter what other players do, it is always Lara who gets the credit - it would have been nice for a player like Gayle to achieve the world record, and get a bit of glory for themeleves. Even though he didn't make it in the end, it was a great effort, and far more enjoyable an innings from a spectators point of view than Lara's world record, IMO. There is no denying Lara is a great batsmen, no doubt at all - I just don't warm to him as an individual. He seems to come off as a rather self-centered perosn, a bit of a cold fish who has an elevated view of his own worth. he also tends to whinge when things go wrong, rather than admit any wrong doing! But that's just how I read him

[Paoli]

When you see 317, no matter how "uninspiring" you may think it is, to me, any century pretty much is bloody inspiring stuff. 317 on a flat wicket is still absolutely brilliant...He is still up against a brilliant attack, and well done to Chris Gayle. What a return to form! I'm glad I've been silenced, just a few days ago I thought he should go back to Jamaica to find some form. Onya Chrissy!!!!