From a cricketing perspective, Chris Gayle is the envy of batsmen around the world and an entertainer who puts backsides on seats. A pioneer in the exponential growth of Twenty20 cricket, Gayle is a record breaker in all three forms of the game. Following his heroics in nearly single-handedly winning the Bangladesh Premier League for Rangpur Riders with hundreds at the business end of the tournament, Gayle solidified his credentials as the best T20 batsman in its short history.
Many laughed at Gayle’s claims that he is the greatest batsman of all time, though if anyone looks back in a hundred years and reads over his record, he has a case strong enough to at least throw his name into the discussion. Among dozens of feats, Gayle is the only player with a triple century in Test cricket, a double century in One Day International Cricket, and a century in Twenty20 internationals. For the era that Gayle found himself playing in, where strike rates and power-hitting are now worth more than previous times, Gayle has put himself at the top of the tree.
Comparisons to previous time are almost worthless. Bradman being told to score 36 off 12 balls or Gayle to survive a session on a wet wicket is asking Einstein to write a play and Shakespeare to smash out equations.
Gayle’s laidback nature is also enviable. For a character placed with the pressure of carrying his team on his bat, and with one mistake ending his innings, one admires how cool he stays. Off the field, Gayle roams the world, breathing easy. Checking his Instagram story has become a game of “Where in the World is Chris Gayle?” From a Caribbean island to the Burj Khalifa, Gayle is a globetrotter in every sense of the word.
With all of his heroics on the field, Gayle’s most important innings in 2017 was in the courtroom, and proved that even the Universe Boss is not completely unperturbed by the outside world. The sepia tints in his shades did not hide his nerves as he walked into New South Wales Supreme Court in late October. Gayle sued Fairfax Media over a series of articles published in three of their publications – The Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times and The Age between the 6th and 9th of January, 2016. In the articles, it was alleged Gayle exposed himself to Leanne Russell, a masseuse of the team, during the 2015 World Cup.
Perhaps the most curious part of this saga is that it is Gayle himself who launched the case, irritated by the stories he deemed as rubbish. Opting not to defend his wicket, Gayle instead hit Fairfax over their head for six and, as his career strike rates show you, attack has often been his best defence. Clearly unravelled by the accusations made in the series of articles, Gayle was set on clearing his name that was, as it turns out, unfairly smeared in the dirt. The Gayle seen lying around poolside with a drink in one hand and a phone capturing his mood in the other was now juxtaposed by a Chris feeling the need to go halfway across the world for justice, though also tense with nerves walking in and out of court.
The court was told that he was “reserved and scared” around women, fearing that they were “out to get him,” according to coach Donovan Miller. Gayle and his team continued to deny the words printed with several witnesses giving their accounts, and after deliberation, Fairfax were forced to retract their pieces after the four person jury ruled in favour of the West Indies batsman. Gayle proved that under a guise of nonchalance is also a man of no-nonsense and action.
Even the biggest fans of Gayle had doubts. Normally cool in any situation, Gayle showed cracks, clearly worn down by the ordeal but determined to set the record straight. Many rightfully ostracised Gayle for his behaviour in his interview with Mel McLaughlin during the 2015/16 Big Bash, though the timing of Fairfax’s pieces (immediately after Gayle’s forgettable interview for the Melbourne Renegades) wreaked of an organisation keen to tarnish him or profit from a hot topic. With Russell also claiming she had known Gayle and the West Indian team for ten years among other points outlined in the trial, it was deemed that things did not add up for the defence.
It is worth noting that the trial was a civil case, where the obligation rests on the plaintiff (Gayle), who must prove his case on the balance of probabilities. While this burden can shift where the defence (Fairfax) can raise particular defences, it differs to criminal cases where the prosecution must prove a case beyond reasonable doubt. It is also worth noting that Fairfax also lost a defamation case to politician Joe Hockey in July 2015, and forced to pay $200,000 in damages.
Gayle insisted his case was not about the money, though did offer his complete story to the media if they offered the right price. Again, as an opportunist, Gayle wishes to capitalise on his story.
Who are we to judge Gayle for this? Even with all the trials and tribulations within a sporting career, many fail to realise that after a playing career comes a uncertain chapter. Some professional sportspeople retire to take up coaching or media roles, though a vast majority fall into a group of obscurity. Gayle understands this better than most. After the continued disputes with the West Indies Cricket Board (where players were paid insufficiently), he along with several high profile Caribbean stars are only filling their pockets with funds they should have been payed for playing. Gayle and others may pocket seven-figure sums for two months of cricket, but there is no guarantee he and others earn a stable income between forty and sixty.
Cricketers may be high-profile celebrities in pockets of the world, but, when compared to other professional athletes, they earn peanuts. Twenty20 franchise cricket has bridged the gap a little, though it has come at the backend of Gayle’s career. He and the likes of Brendon McCullum, Shane Watson and Yuvraj Singh are cashing in now, partly because they had no such luxury in their early 20s. Who could blame Gayle for making hay while the sun shines?
If anything, 2017 proved that Gayle is caught awkwardly in the game’s history, and awkwardly in the eyes of the fans. Not only do the older establishment resent Twenty20 cricket and what it stands for, other fans are willing to turn their back on Gayle due to his conduct outside the ropes. While his court win has hopefully given him the impetus to improve his conduct and to earn the respect of the public, ultimately, it will be the public that will determine his fate. For Gayle, his nonchalance and carefree nature makes the idea of him being caring and remorseful harder to accept, and proving his change will be his biggest challenge.
The ship has sailed for Gayle to return to the Big Bash League again, with his track record enough for teams rule out signing him. Set to turn 39 in September, Gayle is no doubt in the twilight of his career, though still carries the traits of a world-class satellite Twenty20 player, who should continue to dominate as long as he sticks to what he knows best. Despite the regrettable incident with McLaughlin almost two years ago, there are no bans nor regulations preventing his involvement in future editions of the Big Bash League. Gayle has remained keen on returning to Australia Twenty20 competition, though his involvement rests in the hands of the BBL teams around the country.
By Daniel Beswick (@DGBeswick1).
Daniel Beswick 