Ottis Gibson says there’s a place for Chris Gayle
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: West Indies coach Ottis Gibson has said that Chris Gayle is well aware of what is required for him to rejoin the Caribbean team.
Gibson was reacting to a lengthy, emotional statement from Gayle, describing efforts by the West Indies officials to reconcile with him as “a sham and a mockery”.
Gayle was overlooked for selection to the West Indies side now hosting test matches against India, and said he had decided to explore opportunities available to him elsewhere.
Gibson commented: “I do not think much about what is being said. My focus is with the team, and trying to get the team into shape.
“As you can see, though we are not batting very well, there has been a lot of improvement in the team, so that is my focus.
“Whatever Chris or anyone else outside of the team bubble wants to say is completely up to them.”
Gibson said the matter was before the WICB directors now, and he would leave them to deal with it.
“Chris knows this, and it’s got nothing to do with me anymore,” he said.
“We had a meeting last weekend. Chris knows my stance, so if he chooses to come out and make statements, then that’s up to him.
“The board knows my feelings on the whole thing, and we are trying to build a team, a team that can get competitive, and start to win.
“We have not been winning for a while, and everybody has a part to play in this, and Chris Gayle has a part to play in it — if he chooses.
“It seems from a lot of the stuff from what he is saying he doesn’t feel he can be a part of it. He knows what the score is, and he is choosing his own path completely. And that’s up to him completely.”
Gibson said he was trying very hard not to get side-tracked by the issue, since the rebuilding of the team and the game in the region was more than enough for him to handle.
“At the end of the day, I have 13 other players here, and there are broader issues with which I have to deal with in West Indies cricket,” he said.
“I believe there are signs of improvement within the squad. I think we are fielding well. We are bowling teams out twice now, which was not a feature of our cricket for a long time.
“We just need our batsmen to bat to their potential and support the bowlers. I think if we do this, we have the makings of a cricket side that is capable of winning matches.”
Gibson said he was not concerned about players having their own relationship with Gayle, highlighted by Marlon Samuels running over to salute him, following West Indies’ victory in the final One-day International against India that preceded the current Test series.
“Individuals have to deal with stuff in their own way,” he said.
“When we come together as a team, we are very focussed on the job at hand.
“It’s hard to stop a guy from say going on the Internet, and being friendly with Chris, but I can assure you we do not sit and have team meetings about Chris Gayle.
“We discuss cricket, and India, and how we’re going to get Rahul Dravid out, and VVS Laxman out, and how we are going to stop Ishant Sharma from getting six wickets again in the second innings, and how we are going to go about winning the Test match.”
Gibson was reacting to a lengthy, emotional statement from Gayle, describing efforts by the West Indies officials to reconcile with him as “a sham and a mockery”.
Gayle was overlooked for selection to the West Indies side now hosting test matches against India, and said he had decided to explore opportunities available to him elsewhere.
Gibson commented: “I do not think much about what is being said. My focus is with the team, and trying to get the team into shape.
“As you can see, though we are not batting very well, there has been a lot of improvement in the team, so that is my focus.
“Whatever Chris or anyone else outside of the team bubble wants to say is completely up to them.”
Gibson said the matter was before the WICB directors now, and he would leave them to deal with it.
“Chris knows this, and it’s got nothing to do with me anymore,” he said.
“We had a meeting last weekend. Chris knows my stance, so if he chooses to come out and make statements, then that’s up to him.
“The board knows my feelings on the whole thing, and we are trying to build a team, a team that can get competitive, and start to win.
“We have not been winning for a while, and everybody has a part to play in this, and Chris Gayle has a part to play in it — if he chooses.
“It seems from a lot of the stuff from what he is saying he doesn’t feel he can be a part of it. He knows what the score is, and he is choosing his own path completely. And that’s up to him completely.”
Gibson said he was trying very hard not to get side-tracked by the issue, since the rebuilding of the team and the game in the region was more than enough for him to handle.
“At the end of the day, I have 13 other players here, and there are broader issues with which I have to deal with in West Indies cricket,” he said.
“I believe there are signs of improvement within the squad. I think we are fielding well. We are bowling teams out twice now, which was not a feature of our cricket for a long time.
“We just need our batsmen to bat to their potential and support the bowlers. I think if we do this, we have the makings of a cricket side that is capable of winning matches.”
Gibson said he was not concerned about players having their own relationship with Gayle, highlighted by Marlon Samuels running over to salute him, following West Indies’ victory in the final One-day International against India that preceded the current Test series.
“Individuals have to deal with stuff in their own way,” he said.
“When we come together as a team, we are very focussed on the job at hand.
“It’s hard to stop a guy from say going on the Internet, and being friendly with Chris, but I can assure you we do not sit and have team meetings about Chris Gayle.
“We discuss cricket, and India, and how we’re going to get Rahul Dravid out, and VVS Laxman out, and how we are going to stop Ishant Sharma from getting six wickets again in the second innings, and how we are going to go about winning the Test match.”
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