Want to play till I am 50, says Chris Gayle

Swashbuckling West Indies batsman Chris Gayle is not a new name for the cricket lovers. Arguably the most fancied T20 batsman, Gayle wishes to make a comeback to Test cricket. In a recent conversation with the Fox Sports, the big Jamaican batsman spoke in brief about his plans on cricket. He mentioned that he wishes to play till the age of 50.

For Gayle, age is just a number. All it takes to play till that age is fitness, which he believes that he can retain. Certainly, he has his eyes set on being the first player to play until the age of 50. Gayle was recently blessed with a baby girl. The southpaw also remarked that he would want his daughter to watch him play someday. He wants his daughter to cheer for him from the stands at the venues.

“I want to be the first man to play til 50. I’d love her to see me play cricket. I want her to just turn up in the stands and watch dad play a game of cricket, I’d love her to actually witness it one day. Age is something, it’s a number. It’s about the body, when you’re young you can get away with a lot of things, you definitely do a lot more partying,” quoted Chris Gayle.

“You have to keep in shape and you have to start eating properly as well, now, being older now, you have to do all these things. Freshen up the body and make sure you can actually last longer,” he added further.

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Gayle last played a Test match for West Indies way back in 2014. Given his style of play, one would reckon that he has poor stats in the longest format. But it is not the case. Gayle has plundered 7214 runs in the 103 Tests that he has played at an average over 42. He has two triple centuries to his name as well. Speaking about Test cricket, Gayle pointed out that he has the desire to play Tests again. Also, his aim is to score 400 now.

“I will play again. I want to score 400 runs in a Test match. I’ve done two triples, I think I can push it to four [hundred]. A lot of people want to see me back in Test cricket, a lot of people. That’s one of the reasons why I haven’t announced I’ve retired because wherever I go, people want to see me play Test cricket, to give it one more shout, that’s why I’m holding out,” said the dynamic opening batsman.