West Indies

Chris Gayle: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Chris Gayle Finds Ego Blocking His Way

What he said (via FoxSports):

"They have let ego get the better of them.”

Chris Gayle elucidates the continuing standoff between him and the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB).

Gayle said:

I would love to (be playing for the West Indies) but I cannot see it happening at this point in time.

They have let ego get the better of them. But who knows what the future holds?

It’s a sad situation. I am at the top of my game at this particular time of my career but I am not able to be taking part in international cricket.

Things are at a breakdown between the WICB and myself and that is very unfortunate. But a man has to do what a man has to do.

Cricket is my livelihood and I am doing the best I can. I am exploring alternative routes for my career while this situation continues. I am happy with this. It is much better than sitting at home doing nothing.

Gayle will be making his debut for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL) partnering David Warner at the top of the order.

On Warner

Gayle believes that Warner is the best T20 batsman after him.

Apart from me? I have to give it to Warner.From the time he made his debut until now, he has been one of the most exciting batsmen in Twenty20 cricket. He is a beast. He is explosive and dangerous for any bowler. I was very happy to see him make his Test debut.

It is always good to see an attacking player like him at the top of the order.

What he really meant:

“It’s not my pride impeding progress; ergo, their ego.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Dr. Ernest Hilaire and I will be having a nice quiet Christmas barbeque Down Under—this Christmas.”

Suresh Raina: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Suresh Raina Duets Not With Virender Sehwag

What he said (via Times Of India):

"No, I was only on 30 at that time. So, I did not."

Suresh Raina, unlike his batting partner Virender Sehwag, preferred not to make a song-and-dance of his modest score—in comparison.

Raina was replying to a query whether he joined his illustrious senior in humming Kishore Kumar melodies during the Delhi blaster’s record-breaking 219 at Indore.

Raina said:

"He was playing very well with no tension. That day, he was singing some Kishore Kumar songs. He was not feeling any kind of tension."

The young southpaw was addressing the India Today Youth Summit.

What he really meant:

“I was left spellbound and breathless by Viru’s audacious shot-making. How could I?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“I’m a Mohammad Rafi fan.Ghazals are more my scene.”

Viv Richards: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Vivian Richards And The Games People Play

What he said (via Times Of India):

“The WICB have been very naughty.”

Sir Vivian Richards bats for Chris Gayle.

The dashing Jamaican opener has been kept out of the West Indian side for criticising Dr. Ernest Hilaire and his colleagues for their high-handedness and arrogance.

Richards squarely laid the blame—for the current state of Caribbean cricket—at the doorstep of  the West Indian Cricket Board (WICB) .

Richards said:

"There have been some good signs coming out of the team of late, but really, we need to improve more. We are in a transitional stage."

Richards believes that Chris Gayle deserves to be in the Test side.

The original master blaster added:

We have a board that is totally dictatorial and they won’t budge on their thoughts with Chris. The WICB had also asked for a commission to undertake a wide look at the governance of cricket in the West Indies. Now some findings have come back to them and the WICB were not too happy in its findings.

Chris Gayle has a case and the board should find a resolution in the matter ASAP as it is really sad how they have treated him.

The board has not released the findings of the commission and haven’t been upfront with everyone. They have put up a smoke screen and they have been far too dictatorial and someone has to take them on and Chris Gayle is doing that. I wish him luck and I am totally supporting Chris and we need to take these guys on … The WICB have been very naughty.

What he really meant:

“The WICB are acting like spoilt children—wielding the rod.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Yay! The freshly minted West Indian cricketing anthem—Games People Play.”

Virender Sehwag: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Virender Sehwag Is An Old Man At 33

What he said (via Reuters):

"I’m very tired because I’m a 33-year-old. I’m an old man and my back and glutes are tight."

Virender Sehwag excuses himself from fielding after scoring an epic 219 in the fourth ODI against West Indies at Indore.

Sehwag said:

Everybody was expecting me to score a double hundred and I think I lived (up to the) expectation..

Whenever I wanted to hit a ball, I hit into the gaps and it went for four. Whenever I wanted to hit a six, I just tried to hit it with a straight bat.

I was telling myself and Gautam Gambhir that if we batted with a little patience, we could score a big one here.

Sehwag was grassed on 170 by his West Indian counterpart, Darren Sammy.

Sehwag said:

"When Sammy dropped my catch, I thought God is with me and God is telling me ‘just bat until 45th-46th over and you will achieve your 200’.”

What he really meant:

“Post this knock, I just have enough energy to sit on my a**—literally”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Next stop, the Mumbai marathon.”

Chris Gayle: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Chris Gayle Cannot Mask His Admiration

What he said (via Twitter):

“Well I did watch some of that innings by Viru…. Brilliant striking!! Congrats on ur 219.. That’s child abuse! The Mask would say, Smoking!”

Chris Gayle congratulates Virender Sehwag on his marauding knock in the fourth ODI against West Indies at Indore.

Sehwag’s double ton is the highest individual score in the 50 over format.

Sachin Tendulkar held the previous record having scored 200 against South Africa at Gwalior.

What he really meant:

“Viru, you’re toying with my teammates. Find kids your own size to beat up.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Viru, you interrupted my movie. Which one, you ask? The Mask, of course.”

Virender Sehwag: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Virender Sehwag Advises Against Advising Tailenders

What he said (via Times Of India):

“Whatever you tell No. 10 or No. 11, they always do what they want to do.”

Virender Sehwag is one relieved skipper.

Batting minnows, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav, knocked off the required 11 runs to secure victory in the first ODI against West Indies at  Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.

Prior to the ODI series, the third Test match between the two sides ended in a thrilling draw with the scores tied. Then too, it was left to the tailenders to complete the job.

Sehwag said:

I was sitting in the same place and not moving! It’s good to win another nail-biter. Whatever you tell No. 10 or No. 11, they always do what they want to do. I just told them to play till the end and whatever happens is fine. Rohit and Jadeja batted really well in that partnership and we should have won it easily from there, but still good to end up winning. We hope to learn from our batting mistakes in the coming games.

Darren Sammy was the disappointed captain—again.

Sammy said:

Everytime you lose it is quite disappointing. We just didn’t have the last spark to take us past the finish line. The opening bowlers did well to give us a start and we fought all the way to the end, but it wasn’t enough. We could have done things differently, we even bowled 23 extras, but I would like to commend the boys. They fought with never-say-die spirit and it is going to stick.

What he really meant:

“When tailenders bat, they do what they want to and don’t want to, too.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Isn’t cricket a game of glorious uncertainties? So what if I’m missing fingernails?”

Ravi Rampaul: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Ravi Rampaul Plays Villain To Sachin Tendulkar’s Devils

What he said:

“I got the feeling that I was the villain as soon as Sachin went.”

Ravi Rampaul is anointed villain of the piece when the Indian first innings story in the third Test did not go per script.

Sachin Tendulkar missed his 100th international hundred (once again) caught behind for 94 off Rampaul.

The pacer’s  moment of joy was short-lived as the Wankhede crowd made their displeasure known.

Rampaul said:

I got the feeling that I was the villain as soon as Sachin went. When I was back to the boundary I got ‘abused’ in a way but that’s how cricket goes. I know I have let a lot of Sachin fans down and heart broken. But we can’t just let him go out there and play freely. We had our jobs to do such as he had his job to do.

What he really meant:

“If my job makes me enemy to the crowd, so be it. I play for my side.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Sachin’s my hero. I’d  never plan him out.”

MS Dhoni: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

MS Dhoni Is A ‘Package’

What he said:

“I am more of a package than a specialist. I’m neither an extraordinary batsman nor a specialist keeper.”

Mahendra Singh Dhoni is abashed at being described as an “excellent package” by West Indian cricketing great, Jeffrey Dujon.

Dhoni said:

It’s a big compliment for me. I am more of a package than a specialist. I’m neither an extraordinary batsman nor a specialist keeper. It’s all about doing things right. It does not matter how you catch the ball, take the edges and affect stumpings. It’s important to score at that point of time when it’s really good for the side. I hope I will be a specialist one day.

What he really meant:

“Modesty’s my forename.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Fedex, same-day delivery?”

Rahul Dravid: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Rahul Dravid Is Ready For The IPL

What he said:

"I’m preparing for the IPL."

Rahul Dravid jokingly answers a query as to why and how he uncharacteristically slammed a couple of sixes in his 36th ton in the second Test at the Eden Gardens against the West Indies.

Dravid said:

For six weeks with your IPL team, you’re hitting shots all the time.But I don’t think it’s just that. Whenever I’ve been in good form in my career, everything seems to flow. I pick up the length better and get fully forward or back. It’s also about not missing out on the fours.

What he really meant:

“Isn’t that more believable?”

What he definitely didn’t:

“IPL is excellent preparation for the ardours of Test cricket.”

Jeff Dujon: What he said, really meant and definitely did not

Jeffrey Dujon Wants A Lively Pitch at Eden Gardens

What he said:

"At 80 years of age, he [the Eden Gardens curator] has got more life than this pitch."

Jeffrey Dujon, former West Indies wicketkeeper, is caustic about  the Eden Gardens wicket for the second Test at Kolkatta.

Prabir Mukherjee is the curator at Eden Gardens.

What he really meant:

“80+ Mukherjee could bat on this pitch.”

What he definitely didn’t:

“Bend your backs, boys.”