Wednesday 29th December, 2010 15 BY REX CLEMENTINE Indian field hen the West Indies arrived in Sri Lanka in November for a Wseven week cricket tour, there hockey body was quite a bit of skepticism with West Indies cricket in some turmoil. The launches commitment of Chris Gayle for West Indies cricket had been questioned after the left-hander refused to sign a central new league contract and he was promptly removed as captain. MUMBAI, India (AP) - Darren Sammy, whose place in the Indian field hockey looks set for side wasn’t guaranteed, became the 35th a new confrontation with FIH Test captain of West Indies. But some- after the launch of a franchise- one following in the footsteps of Sir based league to be organized by Frank Worrell, Sir Gary Sobers, Rohan a federation not recognized by Kanhai, Clive Lloyd and Sir Viv the world governing body. Richards, playing only eight Tests for Several top Indian players, the West Indies is hardly any qualifica- including star penalty-corner tion and therefore Sammy’s appoint- specialist Sandeep Singh, have ment had greatly upset West Indian sup- signed up for the $1 million porters. World Series Hockey, to be Furthermore, West Indies had never organized by the Indian Hockey won a Test Match in Sri Lanka and they Federation jointly with Nimbus had lost five of their previous six Tests Sport from next year. played here prior to the 2010 tour. The IHF has not been recog- Chris Gayle’s 333 in Galle this year was Test cricket’s 11th highest score. (Files) Given their struggles in Sri Lanka nized by the FIH since 2008, and the new look side they had, there Then after lunch, there was some when it failed to form a com- was quite a bit of pessimism and it was drama. Gayle was caught on 287 by bined body for men and women said they would be whitewashed. Kumar Sangakkara at short extra-cover as per requirements. However, it It was a dawn of a new era for the off Dhammika Prasad and he started to is the body recognized by the Sri Lankan cricket as well mainly walk back to the dressing room and Indian government, although because this was their first Test series Gayle’s storm Prasad gave him a cheeky send off lying FIH-affiliated Hockey India has without Muttiah Muralitharan. The on the ground. But the umpire thought been selecting national teams likes of Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis of checking whether it was a no ball amid court battles. and Rangana Herath had promised so and as it turned out to be, the bowler Nimbus Sport is a private much and it was thought that an opposi- had overstepped and Gayle was called company that holds broadcasting tion like the West Indies was the ideal back. rights to cricket played in India. time for them to stake their claims as in Galle The opener reached his triple hun- Nimbus chairman Harish Sri Lanka’s leading spinner ahead of dred with a lovely cover-drive off Thawani announced the 15-year the sterner tests against England, Mendis joining Sir Don Bradman, Brian deal Tuesday with top players Australia and South Africa in 2011. Lara and Virender Sehwag as only the Memorable 2010 Cricketing standing to earn around But Christopher Gayle had other fourth player to have scored two triple $100,000 per year from match ideas. hundreds. fees and endorsements. Thawani West Indies opted to bat after win- Moments – Part 7 His was the seventh triple hundred said he was not concerned by ning the toss in the first Test in Galle by a West Indian, but the first away what position Hockey India and Gayle, uncharacteristically, started two and Gayle was unbeaten on 219. from West Indies and he improved on might take. off cautiously, but the ninth over of the He added 196 runs for the second Prior to the series, his Sir Viv Richards’ highest score abroad, innings gave an indication as to what wicket with debutant Darren Bravo, a 291 against England at The Oval in 1976. “What is Hockey India? It is was to follow as he hammered three suc- record for any wicket in Tests between record in the sub-conti- It was also the second triple hundred just on paper. Anyway, the mat- cessive boundaries off Thilan Sri Lanka and West Indies. scored against Sri Lanka following ter is in the Supreme Court. IHF Thushara. Gayle smashed nine sixes in all, two nent had come under Younis Khan’s 319 in Karachi and Gayle is recognized by the government He then raced to his half-century in more than the West Indies record for the scanner as he had- went onto post the highest score made and holds hockey infrastructure,” just 61 balls and West Indies took lunch most sixes in an innings jointly held by against the Sri Lankans. Thawani said at a press confer- on day one at 115 for one. Sir Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge. n’t scored a hundred in His 333 is Test cricket’s 11th highest ence that was also attended by After lunch, he was on 84 when The next day, he went past Lara’s 221 Asia and he made score and as he kept passing milestones, newly elected IHF president R.K. Randiv came onto bowl his ninth over that remained the highest individual people started talking of him breaking Shetty and former chief K.P.S. and the Jamaican punched the first score in Tests between the two coun- enough amends at the Brian Lara’s World Record of 400, but Gill. delivery for two runs and then swept the tries. expense of the Sri Ajantha Mendis shattered those dreams Sandeep Singh, who was also off-spinner’s next delivery for four. He The left-hander said after day one when he bowled the left-hander through present during the announce- stepped down for the third ball and loft- that he was eyeing his career best 317 Lankans. “I was aware the gate. ment of the league, said Hockey ed Randiv over long-on for a six to come made against the South Africans, but he of it (not scoring a hun- Prior to the series, his record in the India had not been in touch with within one strike away from a century. had a nervous moment or two when pro- sub-continent had come under the scan- players despite media reports The next delivery was defended and ceedings resumed on day two. dred in the sub-conti- ner as he hadn’t scored a hundred in indicating it had threatened to it was an indication that he would Off the very first delivery in the nent). Coming here I Asia and he made enough amends at the ban those who choose to sign up knock it around to reach triple figures, morning, Ajantha Mendis thought that expense of the Sri Lankans. for the league. but we were proved wrong, like in our he had his man trapped leg before wick- was definitely looking “I was aware of it (not scoring a “We have not received any prediction that the series would be a et and after the umpire turned down the forward to that first hundred in the sub-continent). Coming instruction from Hockey India whitewash. Gayle smashed another appeal the bowler requested his captain here I was definitely looking forward to not to play in this league,” he straight six clearing the long-off bound- to refer the decision to the third umpire. break.” that first break. The last time I toured said. ary and celebrated his century in typi- It was done, but there was enough doubt Sri Lanka, I didn’t get any runs. I didn’t Captain Rajpal Singh, Sardar cal Jamaican style as he took off the in third umpire’s mind too and Gayle get a half-century in the entire Test Singh, Shivendra Singh, Arjun helmet, raised both arms and lay flat on survived. first Test in Galle after Lara smashed series. Once I get an opportunity like Halappa, Adrian D’Souza, Tushar the ground soaking up the atmosphere. He was cautious again in the entire 178 and after scoring over 400 runs on this I was very happy and thrilled to go Khandkar and Prabodh Tirkey are He became only the second West morning session as he picked up just 36 day one, West Indies went onto lose that past that milestone,” Gayle, who in his among the other India players to Indian to score a hundred on Sri runs and West Indies scored only 68 in Test and the series 3-0. last tour here in 2001 managed 54 runs have signed up for World Series Lankan soil after Brian Lara. The 30 overs. So with a plenty of time at hand, in six innings that included ducks in the Hockey. Trinidadian in fact had three Test hun- Sri Lanka bowled tidily as well, but Gayle was in no hurry. last three innings including a pair at It was not immediately clear dreds in Sri Lanka, all of them made Gayle after day’s play said that horrors In the morning session, however, he SSC, said. what kind of international pres- during the 2001 tour and they were mas- of 2001 had haunted him and hence he went past Mahela Jayawardene’s 237 West Indies declared on 580 for nine ence could be expected in the sive too (221 and 130 at SSC and 178 in adopted a cautious approach.