ICC World Cup 2019: Curtly Ambrose Slams Chris Gayle For Retirement U-Turn

Former West Indies legendary fast bowler Curtly Ambrose has blasted Chris Gayle after the southpaw took a U-turn on his retirement. Chris Gayle had claimed before the World Cup that the showpiece event will be swansong tournament in International cricket. However, Gayle recently stated he will play in the Test matches and ODI series against the Indian team. But he won’t partake in the T20 Internationals.

Consequently, Curtly Ambrose who is known not to mince words termed Chris Gayle’s return as ‘nonsense‘. Gayle hasn’t played any Test matches in the last five years. In fact, Ambrose questioned Gayle’s fitness as he generally struggles in the 50-overs match.

“Let me tell you something, one word; nonsense,” Ambrose said of Gayle’s plans for going beyond the World Cup.

In fact, Ambrose said it would convey a wrong message to the other opener. The former pacer stated that Gayle should move forward with grace and there was no point in altering his retirement decision.

Gayle is not at the top of his fitness.

“He hasn’t played Test cricket for five years and he can barely make it in a One Day International, with long periods in the field. A Test match is five days, six hours every day and he hasn’t does it for five years,” Ambrose told BBC Sounds.

“What kind of message would it send to one of the opening batsmen? ‘It’s a farewell game for Chris Gayle so sit this one out’ – that is utter nonsense,” he added.

“He should bow out of this World Cup gracefully. He’s done extremely well for West Indies in world cricket, but you bow out. Move forward.”

Chris Gayle is not at the top of his fitness and it didn’t make a lot of sense for him to reverse the decision. Furthermore, the veteran batsman could not deliver the goods in the World Cup. The southpaw batsman scored 242 runs in the eight matches at an average of 30.25 in the World Cup.