Gary Sobers, cricketer beyond compare, genius like no other. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

Just as the memorable careers of the three Ws were drawing to a close, there appeared on the stage a cricketer blessed by nature like no other. Inarguably the most versatile and complete player, with class stamped all over, the left-handed genius Garfield Sobers was the only one apart from Bradman who would walk into everybody’s all-time dream team. To state the obvious, Sobers was a powerful strokeplayer, predecessor to Brian Lara in myriad ways, not the least in hitting up the record score and highest aggregate in Test cricket; bowler of greater variety than anyone in history - genuine speed, medium-pace swing, left-arm orthodox as well as chinaman; and a superb fielder, particularly close to the wicket in the slips or at backward short-leg.  Like Bradman, the game is not likely to see another with his amazing skills.

The doyen himself, Sir Neville Cardus, described Sobers’ batting thus: “He makes a stroke with moments to spare. The sure sign of mastery, of genius of any order, is absence of strain, natural freedom of rhythm.” How aptly can this be applied to sportspersons of any discipline. Brian Johnston, legend in the commentary box, observed Sobers for years. He wrote in his book It’s Been a Piece of Cake: “…..like all the greats - he had a sound defensive technique, but in attack with a high backlift and perfect timing the power of his strokes had to be seen to be believed. His sizzling drives and crashing hooks were hammered to the boundary, leaving the fielders helpless to stop them.”

Sobers never wore a thigh pad, and except for early in his career had no use for a cap, batting or fielding. His rasping cuts were facilitated by a light bat weighing around 2 lb 4 oz. There was no less power in his shots than seen today by those wielding the chunky modern day bludgeons. That is one of the reasons why there are not many players today who can play genuine horizontal bat shots like the cut, pull and hook with authority. Sobers rarely went down the wicket to the spinners, either using his long reach to drive or playing right back.

For someone who was pitchforked into the Test arena as a 17-year-old left-arm spinner in 1953-54 after just two first-class appearances, it is quite amazing that Sobers went on to become one of the greatest batsmen in history. Four years after his debut, he recorded his first Test hundred against Pakistan at Kingston, an unbeaten 365, the top score at the highest level, surpassing Len Hutton’s mark of two decades earlier. He added 446 for the second wicket in the company of Conrad Hunte, just five runs short of the then all-time high for any wicket put up by Ponsford and Bradman in 1934. Sobers celebrated his achievement by hammering a century in each innings - 125 and 108 not out - in the Georgetown Test. He finished the series with 824 runs at an average of 137.33. The legend of Sobers had been launched.

In 1959-60 against England, Sobers hit up 709 runs at an average of 101.28, crashing 226 at Bridgetown, 147 at Kingston and 146 at Georgetown. He put on 399 for the fourth wicket with Worrell in the Georgetown Test. Though a natural successor to Worrell, Sobers was not as diligent a captain as Bradman. From 1966 to 1967-68, Sobers had a golden run with the bat, averaging over 100 in two successive series, and 90 in the third. During the 1966 tour of England, he scored 722 runs at an average of 103.14 in five Tests, took 20 wickets at 27.25 apiece and held 10 catches. England were again given a 3-1 hammering, and Sobers once more hit up three centuries - 161 at Old Trafford, 163 not out at Lord’s and 174 at Headingley. He then went to India in 1966-67, scoring half-centuries in all his five innings with a highest of 95, aggregating 342 runs and averaging 114. By now the West Indies were the best side in the world. In 1967-68 against England at home, Sobers knocked up 545 runs in five Tests at 90.83 per innings but his over-confident declaration in the fourth Test at Kingston - 215 to win in 165 minutes - handed the series to England, who won that game with three minutes to spare, and the crown slipped.

The irrepressible Sobers became the first batsman in first-class cricket to hit 6 sixes in an over for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, smashing a bewildered Malcolm Nash at St Helen’s Ground, Swansea in 1968. It was in the evening of his career that Sobers played what Sir Donald Bradman described as the best innings he had seen in Australia, comparing it to Stan McCabe’s superb 232 at Trent Bridge in 1938. He slammed 254 for the Rest of the World against Australia at Melbourne in 1971-72 against a young and lightning fast Dennis Lillee. It was an amazing display of pyrotechnics, and when it reached its crescendo, rousing applause came from the spectators and fielders alike. 

When a damaged knee ended his 20-year Test career, Sobers had become the highest run-getter in his 93 appearances with 8032 runs at an average of 57.78, having blazed 26 hundreds, second behind Bradman’s 29. He had captured 235 wickets at 34.03 each, and snapped up 109 catches. It would be fair to say that had he batted higher than the no. 6 that he often did as captain, and if the West Indies did not have bowlers of the calibre of Wesley Hall, Charlie Griffith and Lance Gibbs, Sobers would have had many more runs and wickets to his credit. Gary Sobers was a cricketer beyond compare. It was just a matter of time before knighthood was bestowed on him.

Test Cricket - Records between the two World Wars

 

The rivalry continued between the two World Wars, with Australia overtaking England, largely due the Bradman phenomenon. Here Wally Hammond tosses the coin watched by Don Bradman and the legendary Oval groundsman ‘Bosser’ Martin at the start of the final Test in 1938. The exertions of Bosser’s boys and their use of the heaviest of rollers, dubbed ‘Bosser’s Pet’, turned out a pitch on which Len Hutton batted Australia out of the Test with his record-breaking knock of 364 to level the series.

Australia overtook England as the leading team between the two world wars. South Africa were still way behind, followed by new entrants New Zealand and West Indies, all three quite close together. The newest member India brought up the rear.

TEAM PERFORMANCES

Australia - 1920 to 1938, Tests Played 67, Won 36, Lost 16, Drawn 15, Success % 64.92

England - 1920 to 1939, Tests Played 120, Won 41, Lost 30, Drawn 49, Success % 54.58

South Africa - 1921 to 1939, Tests Played 50, Won 7, Lost 20, Drawn 23, Success % 37.00

New Zealand - 1930 to 1937, Tests Played 14, Won 0, Lost 5, Drawn 9, Success % 32.14

West Indies - 1928 to 1939, Tests Played 22, Won 4, Lost 12, Drawn 6, Success % 31.81

India - 1932 to 1936, Tests Played 7, Won 0, Lost 5, Drawn 2, Success % 14.28

(Success % = Won 2 points, Drawn 1 point)

 

HIGHEST TOTALS

903/7d - England v Australia, The Oval, London, 1938

849 - England v West Indies, Kingston, 1929-30

729/6d - Australia v England, Lord’s, London, 1930

701 - Australia v England, The Oval, London, 1934

695 - Australia v England, The Oval, London, 1930

658/8d - England v Australia, Nottingham, 1938

654/5 - England v South Africa, Durban, 1938-39

636 - England v Australia, Sydney, 1928-29

627/9d - England v Australia, Manchester, 1934

604 - Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

600 - Australia v England, Melbourne, 1924-25

 

LOWEST TOTALS

30 - South Africa v England, Birmingham, 1924

36 - South Africa v Australia, Melbourne, 1931-32

45 - South Africa v Australia, Melbourne, 1931-32

58 - Australia v England, Brisbane, 1936-37

66 - Australia v England, Brisbane, 1928-29

80 - Australia v England, Sydney, 1936-37

90 - West Indies v Australia, Sydney, 1930-31

93 - India v England, Lord’s, London, 1936

97 - West Indies v England, Lord’s, London, 1933

98 - South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg, 1935-36

99 - West Indies v Australia, Melbourne, 1930-31

 

HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES

Len Hutton - 364, England v Australia, The Oval, London, 1938

Wally Hammond - 336*, England v New Zealand, Auckland, 1932-33

Don Bradman - 334, Australia v England, Leeds, 1930

Andy Sandham - 325, England v West Indies, Kingston, 1929-30

Don Bradman - 304, Australia v England, Leeds, 1934

Don Bradman - 299*, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

George Headley - 270*, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1934-35

Don Bradman - 270, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

Bill Ponsford - 266, Australia v England, The Oval, London, 1934

Don Bradman - 254, Australia v England, Lord’s, London, 1930

Wally Hammond - 251, England v Australia, Sydney, 1928-29

 

HUNDRED ON TEST DEBUT

Herbie Collins - 104, Australia v England, Sydney, 1920-21

Bill Ponsford - 110, Australia v England, Sydney, 1924-25

Archie Jackson - 164, Australia v England, Adelaide, 1928-29

George Headley - 176, West Indies v England, Bridgetown, 1929-30

Jackie Mills - 117, New Zealand v England, Wellington, 1929-30

Nawab IAK Pataudi - 102, England v Australia, Sydney, 1932-33

Bryan Valentine - 136, England v India, Bombay, 1933-34

Lala Amarnath - 118, India v England, Bombay, 1933-34

Paul Gibb - 106, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1938-39

 

HIGHEST PARTNERSHIP FOR EACH WICKET

1^st Wicket - 283, Jack Hobbs & Herbert Sutcliffe, England v Australia, Melbourne, 1924-25

2^nd Wicket - 451, Don Bradman & Bill Ponsford, Australia v England, The Oval, 1934

3^rd Wicket - 264, Wally Hammond & Len Hutton, England v West Indies, The Oval, 1939

4^th Wicket - 388, Don Bradman & Bill Ponsford, Australia v England, The Oval, 1934

5^th Wicket - 242, Wally Hammond & Leslie Ames, England v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1932-33

6^th Wicket - 346, Don Bradman & Jack Fingleton, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

7^th Wicket - 147, Rolph Grant & George Headley, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1934-35

8^th Wicket - 246, Leslie Ames & Gubby Allen, England v New Zealand, Lord’s, 1931

9^th Wicket - 137, Eric Dalton & Arthur Langton, South Africa v England, The Oval, 1935

10^th Wicket - 127, Arthur Mailey & Johnny Taylor, Australia v England, Sydney 1924-25

 

OTHER DOUBLE CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS

2^nd Wicket - 382, Len Hutton & Maurice Leyland, England v Australia, The Oval, 1938

2^nd Wicket - 280, Bill Edrich & Paul Gibb, England v South Africa, Durban, 1938-39

1^st Wicket - 276, Charles Dempster & Jackie Mills, New Zealand v England, Wellington, 1929-30

2^nd Wicket - 274, Don Bradman & Bill Woodfull, Australia v South Africa, Melbourne, 1931-32

1^st Wicket - 268, Jack Hobbs & Herbert Sutcliffe, England v South Africa, Lord’s, 1924

4^th Wicket - 266, Wally Hammond & Stan Worthington, England v India, The Oval, 1936

3^rd Wicket - 262, Wally Hammond & Douglas Jardine, England v Australia, Adelaide, 1928-29

1^st Wicket - 260, Bruce Mitchell & Jack Siedle, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1930-31

4^th Wicket - 249, Leslie Ames & Andy Sandham, England v West Indies, Kingston, 1929-30

3^rd Wicket - 249, Don Bradman & Stan McCabe, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

4^th Wicket - 248, Len Hutton & Dennis Compton, England v West Indies, Lord’s, 1939

3^rd Wicket - 245, Frank Woolley & Bob Wyatt, England v South Africa, Manchester, 1929

3^rd Wicket - 245, Wally Hammond & Joe Hardstaff jr, England v New Zealand, Lord’s, 1937

4^th Wicket - 243, Don Bradman & Archie Jackson, Australia v England, The Oval, 1930

3^rd Wicket - 242, Wally Hammond & Eddie Paynter, England v South Africa, Durban, 1938-39

4^th Wicket - 237, Leslie Ames & Patsy Hendren, England v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1929-30

2^nd Wicket - 235, Charlie Macartney & Bill Woodfull, Australia v England, Leeds, 1926

1^st Wicket - 233, Bill Brown & Jack Fingleton, Australia v South Africa, Cape Town, 1935-36

2^nd Wicket - 231, Don Bradman & Bill Woodfull, Australia v England, Lord’s, 1930

2^nd Wicket - 230, Herbert Sutcliffe & Ernest Tyldesley, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1927-28

3^rd Wicket - 229, Don Bradman & Alan Kippax, Australia v England, Leeds, 1930

2^nd Wicket - 229, Don Bradman & Bill Ponsford, Australia v West Indies, Brisbane, 1930-31

2^nd Wicket - 227, George Headley & Karl Nunes, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1929-30

4^th Wicket - 222, Wally Hammond & Eddie Paynter, England v Australia, Lord’s, 1938

4^th Wicket - 221, Herbert Sutcliffe & Wally Hammond, England v South Africa, Birmingham, 1929

1^st Wicket - 219, Len Hutton & Charlie Barnett, England v Australia, Birmingham, 1938

2^nd Wicket - 215, Bill Woodfull & Stork Hendry, Australia v England, Sydney, 1928-29

6^th Wicket - 215, Len Hutton & Joe Hardstaff jr, England v Australia, The Oval, 1938

4^th Wicket - 214, Hubert Deane & Herbie Taylor, South Africa v England, The Oval, 1929

3^rd Wicket - 209, Herbie Collins & Jack Gregory, Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1921-22

4^th Wicket - 206, Charlie Frank & Dave Nourse, South Africa v Australia, Johannesburg, 1921-22

5^th Wicket - 206, Dennis Compton & Eddie Paynter, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1938

1^st Wicket - 203, Vijay Merchant & Mushtaq Ali, India v England, Manchester, 1936

3^rd Wicket - 202, George Headley & Derek Sealy, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1934-35

2^nd Wicket - 200, George Headley & Ivan Barrow, West Indies v England, Manchester, 1933

 

BEST BOWLING IN AN INNINGS

Arthur Mailey - 9 for 121, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1920-21

Hedley Verity - 8 for 43, England v Australia, Lord’s, 1934

Jack White - 8 for 126, England v Australia, Adelaide, 1928-29

Bert Ironmonger - 7 for 23, Australia v West Indies, Melbourne, 1930-31

George Bissett - 7 for 29, South Africa v England, Durban, 1927-28

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 40, Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1935-36

Hedley Verity - 7 for 49, England v India, Madras, 1933-34

Eric Hollies - 7 for 50, England v West Indies, Georgetown, 1934-35

Bill O’Reilly - 7 for 54, Australia v England, Nottingham, 1934

James Langridge - 7 for 56, England v West Indies, Manchester, 1933

Hedley Verity - 7 for 61, England v Australia, Lord’s, 1934

Alfred Hall - 7 for 63, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1922-23

Jack Gregory - 7 for 69, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1920-21

George Geary - 7 for 70, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1927-28

Bill Voce - 7 for 70, England v West Indies, Port of Spain, 1929-30

AP ‘Tich’ Freeman - 7 for 71, England v South Africa, Manchester, 1929

Frank Woolley - 7 for 76, England v West Indies, Wellington, 1929-30

Gubby Allen - 7 for 80, England v India, The Oval, 1936

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 83, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

Lala Amar Singh - 7 for 86, India v England, Madras, 1933-34

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 87, Australia v West Indies, Adelaide, 1930-31

Percival Hornibrook - 7 for 92, Australia v England, The Oval, 1930

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 100, Australia v South Africa, Durban, 1935-36

AP ‘Tich’ Freeman - 7 for 115, England v South Africa, Leeds, 1929

Clarrie Grimmett - 7 for 116, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

Bill O’Reilly - 7 for 189, Australia v England, Manchester, 1934

 

BEST BOWLING IN A MATCH

Hedley Verity - 15 for 104, England v Australia, Lord’s, 1934

Clarrie Grimmett - 14 for 199, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

Clarrie Grimmett - 13 for 173, Australia v South Africa, Durban, 1935-36

Arthur Mailey - 13 for 236, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1920-21

Jack White - 13 for 256, England v Australia, Adelaide, 1928-29

 

FIVE WICKETS IN AN INNINGS ON TEST DEBUT

James Langridge - 7 for 56, England v West Indies, Manchester, 1933

Alfred Hall - 7 for 63, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1922-23

Clarrie Grimmett - 6 for 37, Australia v England, Sydney, 1924-25

Charles Marriott - 6 for 59, England v West Indies, The Oval, 1933

Alexander Bell - 6 for 99, South Africa v England, Lord’s, 1929

Francis Ward - 6 for 102, Australia v England, Brisbane, 1936-37

George Parker - 6 for 152, South Africa v England, Birmingham, 1924

Cedric Smith - 5 for 16, England v West Indies, Bridgetown, 1934-35

Wally Hammond - 5 for 36, England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1927-28

George Bissett - 5 for 37, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1927-28

Charles Marriott - 5 for 37, England v West Indies, The Oval, 1933

Maurice Allom - 5 for 38, England v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1929-30

Clarrie Grimmett - 5 for 45, Australia v England, Sydney, 1924-25

Henry Promnitz - 5 for 58, South Africa v England, Johannesburg, 1927-28

George Macaulay - 5 for 64, England v South Africa, Cape Town, 1922-23

Tim Wall - 5 for 66, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1928-29

Ken Farnes - 5 for 77, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1934

William Copson - 5 for 85, England v West Indies, Lord’s, 1939

Mohammad Nissar - 5 for 93, India v England, Lord’s, 1932

Reginald Perks - 5 for 100, England v South Africa, Durban, 1938-39

Ken Farnes - 5 for 102, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1934

Norman Gordon - 5 for 103, South Africa v England, Johannesburg, 1938-39

                                                                                                    

TEN WICKETS IN A MATCH ON TEST DEBUT

Clarrie Grimmett - 11 for 82, Australia v England, Sydney, 1924-25

Charles Marriott - 11 for 96, England v West Indies, The Oval, 1933

Alfred Hall - 11 for 112, South Africa v England, Cape Town, 1922-23

Ken Farnes - 10 for 179, England v Australia, Nottingham, 1934

 

HAT-TRICKS

Maurice Allom - England v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1929-30

Tom Goddard - England v South Africa, Johannesburg, 1938-39

 

MOST CATCHES BY A FIELDER

Wally Hammond (England) - Tests 77, Catches 101

Bruce Mitchell (South Africa) - Tests 32, Catches 44

Stan McCabe (Australia) - Tests 39, Catches 41

Jack Gregory (Australia) - Tests 24, Catches 37

Frank Woolley (England) - Tests 42, Catches 36

Patsy Hendren (England) - Tests 51, Catches 33

Percy Chapman (England) - Tests 26, Catches 32

Hedley Verity (England) - Tests 40, Catches 30

# In addition, Frank Woolley took 1 catch as wicketkeeper

Road to the Cricket World Cup 2023. Hall of Fame: Chris Gayle

It’s a storm, it’s a hurricane, no it’s Gayle

Chris Gayle, great entertainer with the mighty cudgel and an unforgettable character of the willow game.

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BATTING: Matches 35, Innings 34, Not Out 1, Highest Score 215, Runs 1186, Average 35.93, Strike-rate 90.53, 100s 2, 50s 6, Catches 17

ONE-DAY WORLD CUP BOWLING: Balls 793, Maidens 3, Runs 652, Wickets 16, Average 40.75, Best Bowling 2/21, Runs/Over 4.93

It might seem an oxymoron, but Chris Gayle has been the elder statesman as well as rock star of world cricket. He went on and on, a much sought after acquisition in Twenty20 leagues around the world, having blazed a scorching trail in Test matches and One-day Internationals over two decades. In many ways he is a wonder of cricket in the 2000s. Remarkably consistent, Gayle over the years turned into a scintillating hitter, while at the same time shown a propensity to play long innings. He is one of four to hit up two triple-centuries in Test cricket, the others being the immortal Sir Donald Bradman, Brian Lara and Virender Sehwag. With 7,214 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 42.18 and 15 hundreds, he is one of the best openers produced by the West Indies. A tally of 10,480 runs in 301 One-day Internationals at an average of 37.83 and strike-rate of 87.19 with 25 centuries make his achievements monumental. His quickish off-spin has often been more than useful, particularly in One-dayers in which he captured 167 wickets at 35.48 each with an economy-rate of 4.78. Gayle is indeed a colossus.

Gayle has been a top performer in the World Cup as well. He had an impact in almost all his five World Cup tournaments even though the West Indies struggled to keep up with the best. When he began his stint in the showpiece event, it would have been hard to imagine that he would become the kind of striker that he did. He and his partner Wavell Hinds were scoreless after four overs against Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini, the only two runs on the board being extras. Gayle’s first run came off his 15^th delivery, while Hinds was caught behind by Mark Boucher off Pollock for a duck, having faced 16 balls. Gayle was bowled by Pollock for 2 from 21 deliveries. Brian Lara then scored a brilliant century and the West Indies totalled 278 for five. Gayle took two vital wickets. He had Pollock brilliantly caught by Carl Hooper and then castled Boucher one short of his fifty, sending the Proteas into a tail-spin at 204 for seven. These wickets cost Gayle 60 runs. There was some big hitting by Lance Klusener, supported by Nicky Boje. But West Indies won by 3 runs after South Africa received a penalty of one over for exceeding the time allowed to bowl their quota.

Things were more normal as they faced New Zealand. Set a target of 242, Gayle and Hinds raised 34 off 9.2 overs before Gayle departed for 22 off 29 balls. West Indies, though, lost by 20 runs.

Gayle was dismissed for nought before rain washed out most of the Bangladesh innings. John Davison blasted the then fastest hundred in the World Cup and well over half of Canada’s runs. Though Gayle could score only 8, West Indies sped to a seven-wicket win, hitting up 206 for three in 20.3 overs.

Thus far Gayle had a lean trot, but no longer. Sri Lanka posted 228 for six. Gayle had Sanath Jayasuriya caught at mid-wicket for 66, finishing with one for 42. He played a fine innings, even as Hinds and Lara left early. He did most of the scoring; Sarwan was hit on the ear by Dilhara Fernando, and immediately Carl Hooper was trapped leg-before by the same bowler. With Shivnaraine Chanderpaul settling down, Gayle brought up his half-century off 59 balls. He was lbw to Chaminda Vaas for 55, having faced 76 balls and struck 8 fours. Despite Chanderpaul’s 65 and a courageous unbeaten 47 by Sarwan, West Indies lost by 6 runs.

With no chance to qualify for the super-six, their last Pool B match was against Kenya who were having a dream run. This time Chanderpaul opened with Gayle, the pair hoisting 122 runs in 28.1 overs. They were dealing in boundaries, the fifty coming in 10.3 overs. Chanderpaul was first to his half-century off 46 deliveries. The hundred of the innings was raised in 21.4 overs. Gayle brought up his fifty in 88 balls. Chanderpaul holed out for 66, having faced 72 deliveries studded with 2 sixes and 7 fours. It might now seem surreal that the generally pedestrian Chanderpaul outscored the swashbuckling Gayle by a long way; it was the canny old warhorse outpacing the young colt still finding his feet in the big Derby. With wickets tumbling at the other end, Gayle hoisted his maiden World Cup century in 143 balls. Then he provided glimpses of what Gayle was to become in the years to come. After sweeping Maurice Odumbe for two off the first delivery, he smashed the last three balls for 6.4.6. He was caught by Collins Obuya in the covers off Angara for 119, his stay at the crease spanning 151 deliveries studded with 2 sixes and 8 fours. It was a splendid innings, a harbinger of things to come.

Personally, it would have been a satisfying first World Cup for Gayle, scoring a century and a fifty, averaging 34.33 in his six matches. His four wickets at under 5 runs an over were a bonus.

The 2007 tournament at home did not go as well as the charmers from the Caribbean Isles would have liked. The opening game, though, was heartening as they trounced Pakistan by 54 runs. Gayle was dismissed early, caught behind for 2.

Zimbabwe could only put up 202 for five. Gayle and Chanderpaul put on 73 in 17.3 overs, this time the younger man being the more belligerent. The highlight of Gayle’s knock was three consecutive sixes off seamer Tawanda Mupariwa, two over long-on and one above mid-wicket. Both fell at the same score, Gayle caught at slip for 40, having faced 48 balls and hit 3 sixes and 3 fours. West Indies sailed to a six-wicket win.

It was an easy eight-wicket triumph over Ireland, who had shocked Pakistan earlier. The Irish could manage only 183 for eight in their allotted 48 overs. Gayle had Andre Botha caught behind, and Kevin O’Brien taken at mid-wicket. He bagged two for 23 off his 10 overs. In attacking mode with the bat, he slammed 3 fours in his 18 off 14 balls before being caught at mid-off. Chanderpaul scored an unbeaten century and the West Indies ran away with the match. They had won all three of their Group D matches but there were sterner tests ahead.

There was a heavy defeat at the hands of the invincible Aussies in the first super-eight match, with Matthew Hayden hitting up a tremendous 158. Having got bogged down, Gayle tried to pull the relentless Glenn McGrath, only to top-edge it into the hands of mid-on, having scored just 2 off 23 balls.

Gayle battled at the top even as the side collapsed to the Kiwi attack. He featured in a 52-run second-wicket stand with Ramnaresh Sarwan in 8.3 overs but the West Indies kept losing wickets. Gayle broke the shackles with a flurry of boundaries. He scored 44 from 56 deliveries, having struck 8 fours. New Zealand easily overhauled the West Indies total of 177.

West Indies were next at the receiving end of Sanath Jayasuriya’s bludgeon as he and Mahela Jayawardene put Sri Lanka on top. Despite resistance from Chanderpaul and Sarwan a target of 304 was a bridge too far. Gayle skied Lasith Malinga, to be caught at long-on for 10.

A.B. de Villiers was in awesome touch as the South Africans piled up 356 for four. Gayle shared a 60-run second-wicket stand with Devon Smith. Unfortunately, he was run out by a superb direct hit by Ashwell Prince. He scored 32, having faced 35 balls and struck 3 fours. Despite a brilliant 92 by Sarwan, West Indies could manage just 289 for nine.

After all these reverses in the super-eight, there was some respite as Bangladesh could not put up much resistance. Gayle, though, was leg-before for 1. Sarwan was once again in wonderful touch, hitting up an unbeaten 91 as the West Indies notched up 230 for five in their 50 overs. Bangladesh were never in the hunt. Gayle wiped out the tail, picking up two for 28 in 8.5 overs as the West Indies won by 99 runs. 

With neither the West Indies nor England in a position to qualify for the semi-finals, the last super-eight fixture became the legend Brian Lara’s farewell. Fittingly, Gayle and Devon Smith gave a flying start. Gayle bludgeoned the bowlers all around. He hoisted his half-century off just 29 balls. The hundred of the innings came up in 14.3 overs. Gayle was caught at third-man for 79, a typically belligerent knock spanning 58 deliveries and comprising 3 sixes and 10 fours. The partnership was worth 131 in 23.5 overs. Gayle crossed Lara who was on the way in for his final international innings. The maestro was shaping well but was sadly run out for 18. West Indies were all out for 300 in 49.5 overs. A typically aggressive 100 from Kevin Pietersen put England on course but they kept losing wickets. With the last pair in, they scampered to victory with just one ball to spare. It was a poignant end to Lara’s great career. 

There were modest returns for Gayle. His 228 runs came at an average of 25.33, and his five wickets cost 56.20 each. It was his most disappointing World Cup.

It was not a happy start in 2011 either. Gayle was dismissed early for 2, and the West Indies could put up just 222 in 47.3 overs. Courtesy a brilliant unbeaten century by A.B. de Villiers, South Africa cantered to a seven-wicket win. 

In contrast, Holland did not provide much resistance. Gayle and Devon Smith were again in harness. Smith did most of the scoring till the fifty was posted in 9.2 overs. Then Gayle revved up his engine. Two deliveries after the 100 had come up in 16.1 overs, Smith was caught behind for 53. Gayle’s half-century came off 63 balls. He shifted gears, crashing two sixes atop long-off in the next over. The stand with Darren Bravo was worth 68 in 15.1 overs. Gayle holed out at long-off for 80. He had negotiated 110 deliveries, and hammered 2 sixes and 7 fours. Kieron Pollard crashed 60 in 27 balls, and the West Indies logged up 330 for eight. Holland scored exactly half of that in 31.3 overs.

Bangladesh packed up for 58 in 18.5 overs. Gayle scored an unbeaten 37 in 36 balls with 6 fours as the West Indies coasted to a nine-wicket win in 12.2 overs. There was an easy triumph over Ireland which Gayle missed due to an abdominal strain.

Gayle was back for the face-off with England who were bowled out for 243. He was in a belligerent mood, blasting Tim Bresnan for four boundaries in the third over. He took to Chris Tremlett in the fifth over, thumping him for 4.6.4.4. Gayle was leg-before to James Tredwell for 43 off a mere 21 deliveries studded with a six and 8 fours. This was in a partnership of 58 in 6.5 overs with Devon Smith. West Indies kept losing wickets to the spinners and were dismissed for 225.

Once again, Gayle missed the game against India that the hosts wrapped up easily. Pakistan shot out the West Indies for 112 in the quarter-final. Gayle was caught at mid-off for 8, trying to belt the cover off the ball. Pakistan cruised to a ten-wicket win.

Though dogged by injury and having to skip a couple of games, it was a more productive World Cup for Gayle. His 170 runs came at an average of 42.50 with a strike-rate of 94.97.

There was a shock defeat at the hands of Ireland in 2015. Gayle played a sedate innings of 36, holing out to wide long-on after negotiating 65 deliveries. Lendl Simmons scored a superb 102 off 84 balls on World Cup debut. West Indies logged up 304 for seven. But splendid batting by the Irish top-order took them to a comfortable four-wicket win.

West Indies quickly corrected course, putting up 310 for six off the Pakistani attack. Gayle, though, perished for 4. They then dismissed Pakistan for 160.

And then came the celebrated encounter with Zimbabwe. Gayle smashed the first double century of the World Cup, and the first double century by a non-Indian in One-day Internationals. Earlier, in chronological order, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Rohit Sharma (two) had hit double tons in One-dayers. New Zealander Martin Guptill joined the club later in this World Cup. Amazingly, Rohit Sharma smashed a third double hundred in 2017, Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman joined the league in 2018, and yet another Indian Ishan Kishan made his entry in 2022. After Dwayne Smith was dismissed off the second delivery of the match, Gayle and Marlon Samuels batted through the rest of the innings, putting on 372 runs for the 2^nd wicket, the highest-ever partnership in the World Cup and in all One-day Internationals. Gayle was out off the last ball of the innings, his 215 obviously being the highest score in the World Cup at that stage until Guptill knocked up an unbeaten 237 in the quarter-finals. Gayle’s monumental knock spanned 147 deliveries. Samuels was unbeaten with 133 from 156 balls with 3 sixes and 11 fours. The 16 sixes rocketed by Gayle were the maximum in a World Cup innings, equalling the feats of Rohit Sharma and A.B. de Villiers in all One-day Internationals. Gayle’s 136 runs in boundaries (16 sixes, 10 fours) were the highest in an innings in the World Cup until Guptill hit up 162 (11 sixes, 24 fours) in his epic knock. Gayle brought up his 9,000 runs in One-day Internationals, emulating Brian Lara’s feat. West Indies piled up 372 for two, their highest in the World Cup and in all One-day Internationals. Despite spirited resistance by the middle-order, Zimbabwe were all out for 289. Gayle bagged two wickets for 35 runs off his 6 overs and pouched a catch. He was, obviously, the man-of-the-match.

After the highs of this match, came the blitzkrieg from A.B. de Villiers. He blasted the then second-fastest hundred and fastest 150 in the World Cup on the way to his unbeaten 162 off a mere 66 balls. South Africa hoisted 408 for five. Gayle was bowled for 3, and all that the West Indies managed was 151 in 33.1 overs. 

Gayle got a start against India but holed out at square-leg for 21. West Indies could only put together 182 runs. India overhauled this score with relative ease, losing six wickets in the process. A back strain kept Gayle out of the game against United Arab Emirates.

The quarter-final was a Guptill show. He smashed an astonishing double century, second in the World Cup after Gayle. His unbeaten 237 was the highest score in the World Cup, surpassing Gayle’s 215 less than a month earlier. New Zealand’s 393 for six was their highest total in the World Cup. Gayle too was in a belligerent mood. A rollicking stand of 53 in 3.4 overs with Marlon Samuels set the tone for the West Indies innings. Tim Southee came in for special treatment, and then Gayle clouted Daniel Vettori for three consecutive sixes on the on-side. Gayle smashed his fifty off just 26 deliveries. He had 8 sixes and 2 fours in his 33-ball pyrotechnics, 56 runs in boundaries in his knock of 61, an overwhelming percentage of 91.80. West Indies were bowled out for 250 in 30.3 overs.

This was, by far, Gayle’s best World Cup. An aggregate of 340 in 6 matches with an average of 56.66 and strike-rate of 117.24 would have provided him much satisfaction.

At almost 40 years of age, Gayle was back for his fifth World Cup in 2019. Pakistan could only put up 105 runs in 21.4 overs. Gayle was at his aggressive best. After two consecutive boundaries there were two sixes in a row, in successive overs from Hasan Ali, and another two fours in his next over. Then it was Wahab Riaz’s turn. Gayle hammered him for 6.4.4 to long-off, cover and square-leg. He got his fifty off 33 balls but was out in the same over, having smacked 3 sixes and 6 fours. He now had the highest number of 40 sixes in the World Cup, going past A.B. de Villiers. West Indies cantered to a seven-wicket win. 

In a closely-contested match, Australia put up 288 runs. Gayle was looking good, cracking Pat Cummins for three boundaries in an over, joining the World Cup 1000-run club. But Mitchell Starc trapped him leg-before for 21. Despite the efforts of the middle-order, West Indies could only total 273 for nine as Starc ran through the tail with a five-wicket haul. 

The faceoff with South Africa was disrupted by rain. After a pensive start against England, Gayle reeled off a string of five boundaries and a straight six in quick succession. But he was caught on the hook for 36 off 41 deliveries. West Indies could only put up 212. A superb unbeaten 100 by Joe Root carried England to an eight-wicket win.

Gayle was unusually subdued in the match-up with Bangladesh and was caught behind for a duck, having faced 13 deliveries. Splendid batting by the top-order took the West Indies to 321 for eight. But a brilliant hundred by Shakib Al Hasan and his unbroken 189-run stand with Liton Das earned Bangladesh a remarkably easy seven-wicket victory.

A classy 148 by Kane Williamson helped the Kiwis to a total of 291 for eight. Gayle was in great nick. Having settled down, he slammed Matt Henry for 3 sixes and 2 fours in a couple of overs. He found an able ally in Shimron Hetmyer. Gayle raised his half-century in 51 balls. Mitchell Santner faced the fury of his punishing blade, being hit for 3 sixes and a boundary in two overs. The duo put on 122 runs in 15.5 overs for the third wicket. Gayle was caught at long-on for 87, having taken on 84 deliveries and hammered 6 sixes and 8 fours. Carlos Brathwaite hit a brilliant century; the match went right down to the wire. Adding vital runs with the tail, Brathwaite was caught on the long-on boundary for 101, just five short of the New Zealand total. A few inches, and it would have been the opposite result. That is the distance between agony and ecstasy in cricket! 

India were too strong, posting 268 for seven and then bowling out the West Indies for 143. Gayle was caught at mid-on for 6.

There was a better performance against Sri Lanka, but still a defeat. The Lankans logged up 338 for six. Gayle played a sedate cameo bereft of histrionics for the most part. His first boundary came off the 32^nd delivery he faced. He broke free twice, tonking Kasun Rajitha for sixes on the on-side. The bowler, though, got reprisal immediately, having Gayle caught off a steepler. His 35 spanned 48 deliveries. Nicholas Pooran hit up a fine century, and Fabian Allen knocked up a belligerent fifty but the West Indies fell 23 runs short of the Lankan score. 

There was just the proverbial pride to play for when the two bottom-placed outfits met in their last league fixture. Gayle was caught behind for 7 and he trudged back slowly, probably for the last time in the showpiece event. West Indies batted well through the order to log up 311 for six. Afghanistan fought hard but were beaten by 23 runs.

There were modest returns for Gayle, 242 runs at an average of 30.25, a strike-rate of 88.32 and two fifties. But he provided yeomen service to the West Indies through the best part of two decades. In an interview to The Telegraph, he provided an insight into his mindset, “If you watch my career it’s a lot of failures more than success over the 20 years. As a cricketer you have to understand you’ll fail more than you succeed. It’s tough man. That’s why I’m saying if you’re not mentally strong you’ll walk away from the game. Especially if you’re not performing well it’s even tougher. But you have to embrace it - accept it and tell yourself you will bounce back and come back stronger. You’ve got to know how to pull through these moments.”

A colourful figure on the field with his twirling locks and big, ever-ready smile, he is the sixth-highest scorer in the World Cup with 1186 runs at 35.93 per innings, a strike-rate of 90.53, two hundreds and 6 half-centuries, one of 21 players to notch up 1,000 runs, and one of only two to hit up a double-century. The records don’t end there. He has by far the most sixes in the World Cup (49), most sixes in a World Cup (26 in 2015), second-highest number of sixes in an innings (16 to Eoin Morgan’s 17), and second in terms of runs in boundaries in an innings (136 to Martin Guptill’s 162). His bowling has been handy, 16 wickets at 40.75 apiece at 4.93 runs an over, not forgetting his reliability in the field with 17 catches. But the mountain of statistics scarcely tell the full tale of Chris Gayle. He has been one of the greatest entertainers with the mighty cudgel, one of the unforgettable characters of the willow game.

(Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s forthcoming book ‘World Cup Odyssey’).

When in the mood, Brian Lara a genius, no less. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

 

When in the mood, Brian Lara was a genius, no less. Caribbean flair, and not any textbook principles, was the hallmark of his batting. High backlift, braced knees, a hop this way and that in the crease, flashing blade and terrific bat speed, and deft wrist-work on either side of the wicket were characteristics of his inimitable style. When he put his mind to it, he was amongst the very best ever, in the traditional form perhaps next only to Bradman.

As super success embraced him, Lara was quick to assume the airs of a megastar. Petulance, brushes with authority and stormy personal life began to cast a shadow over his career. For a long time it seemed that he might go the way of so many hugely talented sportsmen like George Best who frittered away their God-given gifts and ultimately destroyed themselves.

It is said that the pressure of expectations got the better of Lara. To his credit, he broke free of the stupor and applied his mind to his batting, returning as one of the greatest rungetters the game has seen. The difference between Lara and Tendulkar - hugely talented as both are in their unique ways - was that Tendulkar remained grounded, a dedicated player, committed team man, modest and content in the security of family life. He never allowed the unprecedented adulation to swamp him, nor did the burden of having to perform constantly stifle him. He sailed along, darling of millions, everyone’s very own endearing Sachin. If he had a flaw, as we have already discussed, it was that he would get carried away by his own brilliance and give his wicket away when there were many, many more runs for the taking.

That 277 at Sydney in 1992-93, Lara’s first Test hundred, when the West Indies were desperately defending their status as top dogs, was only advance notice of what was to follow. Lara emulated Bradman by holding the records for the highest scores in Tests as well as first-class cricket. Sir Garfield Sobers walked on to the Antigua Recreation Ground to embrace Lara as the new hero went past his Test record. In that 1993-94 series against England, Lara hit up 798 runs at an average of 99.75.

The world had still not stopped applauding Lara when he astounded everyone by piling up an unbeaten 501 for Warwickshire versus Durham at Birmingham. It was a new frontier - as a famous television series on space odysseys declared - where no man had gone before. In a matter of days he did what no batsman, not Grace nor Bradman, had done in 117 years. The English bowlers must have dreaded the sight of his punishing blade as he carved out 765 runs in the six-Test series on their soil in 1995 at an average of 85.

In between, Lara had not relished the slower wickets of India during the 1994-95 series. Not long after, when the euphoria of having scaled great highs so early in his career wore off, Lara began appearing listless and disinterested. It was akin to the feeling of unease that Bradman experienced in 1932, but Lara’s malaise was more severe. Bradman never allowed his performances to dip, Lara could not defy his slump.

He recovered, to the good fortune of cricket-lovers around the world. The first sign of a turnaround came in 1998-99. That season his stock had slumped to abysmal depths in South Africa as the West Indies were trounced 5-0 in the Test series. Then they were beaten by Australia in the first Test at home. There were shrill voices all around demanding that Lara be stripped of the captaincy. And then he struck. He scored a superb 213 to lead the West Indies to victory over Steve Waugh’s side at Kingston. In the very next Test at Bridgetown he carried his team to an exhilarating one-wicket triumph with a stupendous unbeaten 153. So gripping was the game that the Jamaican prime minister postponed meetings to watch the finale. The West Indies actually led the series 2-1 now, and Lara was again being hailed as a superhero everywhere. This was akin to Bradman’s stirring fightback in 1936-37, but not quite as decisive in the end. The Australians eventually levelled the series, but Lara had once again shown what he was really capable of.

The big turnaround eventually came in 2001-02 in the Emerald Island after a prolonged illness. He began with his 221 off the Sri Lankan bowling at Colombo in that landmark season. In three Tests, Lara scored 668 runs at an average of 114.66 with 3 hundreds. Though he suffered a serious arm injury as a result of a mid-pitch collision, he came back stronger than ever. Since that series, in the last six years till his retirement from Test cricket in 2006-07, he scored an average of a Test double century a year.        

When Sri Lanka made a return visit to the Caribbean islands the next season, Lara slammed 209 at Gros Islet. After he regained the captaincy in 2003, and perhaps consumed by a burning desire to finish his career in a blaze of glory, Lara was unstoppable. He played two big knocks in the 2003-04 season. He first slammed 202 against South Africa at Johannesburg. During the course of that innings he hit the highest number of runs in an over in Test cricket. He smashed Robin Peterson for 4.6.6.4.4.4, a total of 28 runs.

Matthew Hayden had taken away Lara’s Test record that season. The Prince of Trinidad, though, was not ready to be dethroned. And so Hayden had the pleasure, and privilege, of being Test cricket’s top-scorer for only a few months.  Lara returned to the same venue and against the very opponents of a decade earlier and reclaimed his coveted record. Again he went to a territory no Test cricketer had treaded before, reaching 400 before he returned unconquered. He had emulated Bradman by hitting up two scores of 300-plus in Test cricket. India’s Virender Sehwag joined the club at Chennai in 2007-08. But while Bradman was never able to reset the Test record, Lara, incredibly, got it back. That there was a gap of a decade between the two high watermarks, makes his achievements even more laudable.

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Don’s Century

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

Weight 480 grams

188 pages

Available on Amazon at an attractive price: https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166859  

Indra Vikram Singh's other books available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/s?k=Indra+Vikram+Singh&i=stripbooks&rh=p_6%3AA3HSV0N9AV7NOK&dc&qid=1602408830&rnid=1318474031&ref=sr_nr_p_6_1