Twitteratti buoyant as Chris Gayle returns to Windies fold

Swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle has been recalled to the West Indies side for the solitary T20 game against India which will be played on July 9. Gayle hasn’t played for West Indies since the World T20 held in 2016. The left-hander is a freelancer who plays cricket for various T20 leagues around the globe after hitting a brick wall with the West Indies selectors.

The ‘universal boss’ will add to his 50 appearances in T20 internationals when he walks out to take the field at the Sabina Park in Jamaica, which also happens to be his home ground. Gayle, rather oddly, hasn’t played a single T20 game for his country on this ground. Surely, the crowd will be agog when the local boy will take guard on Sunday.

The opener is still the highest run-getter for West Indies scoring 1519 runs at 35.32 in 47 innings. His strike rate of 145.49 puts him in a different league as a T20 batsman. He might have played for umpteen numbers of teams in the past but playing for the country gives him immense satisfaction by his own admission.

His run-ins with the West Indies Cricket Board dates back a long time which has curtailed his international appearances in the latter part of his career. His last ODI appearance was in the 2015 World Cup, where he hit a whirlwind 215. Despite his outstanding numbers in the tournament, he was overlooked by the Board due to both parties differences from one and another.

Gayle, 37, is at the fag end of his glorious career. He plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL but couldn’t amass many runs this year which has put his continuum with the franchise under a cloud. In 9 games this season, the big-hitting Gayle scored just 200 runs at 22.22 and an underwhelming strike rate of 122.69. His effectiveness in the format is under question but the West Indies selectors have recalled him for his immense experience and potential.

The Jamaican-born cricketer will relish the opportunity to play international cricket again in front of his home crowd. If he gets going then he can befuddle any bowling attack in the world.

Here are the best tweets for the big man’s comeback into the West Indies team:

Great to see @henrygayle back for the @westindies https://t.co/VNOUDu6aNn

— Damien Martyn (@damienmartyn) July 5, 2017

Chris Gayle named in West Indies squad for lone T20 vs India.
Last appeared for this side in any format – #WT20 final v Eng 3-4-2016#WIvInd

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 5, 2017

Chris Gayle is back in the Windies squad for one-off T20I against India. #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/gjnFMn1OBR

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 5, 2017

Chris Gayle is back in Windies squad for the T20I match against India. #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/dnrm8SvsHR

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 5, 2017

Chris Gayle to Take Field Against India in T20 Tie on 9th Sunday.
It will be Gayle's first T20 match at his home ground, Sabina Park.

— Swachh Politics (@SwachhPolitics) July 5, 2017

Chris Gayle has done a tremendous job to save the humanity !! pic.twitter.com/XejRKEjlU1

— Trojan_Horse (@SampathRedDevil) July 5, 2017

So Chris Gayle is back in Windies t20 squad. #WI squad come to live now.#INDvWI #TeamIndia #WednesdayWisdom pic.twitter.com/6tvLpDdPXE

— Sunay Sawant? (@SunaySawant09) July 5, 2017

West Indies finally knows the importance of #ChrisGayle or is it just a desperate attempt to win the match?

— parth vashi (@pnv33) July 5, 2017

@henrygayle added to T20 squad only to be chugged down by @BhuviOfficial ?

— Sagar (@Sagarcasm_MUFC) July 5, 2017

Great news hearing that @henrygayle will be representing the region again! #UniverseBoss

— Kirk Edwards (@Edical30) July 4, 2017