26 Sports Thursday, June 27, 2019 Chris Gayle says he is among West Indies greats Always cherish two decades playing for the West Indies: Gayle MANCHESTER: Chris Gayle says he deserves to be West Indies host India for two Tests, three ODIs considered alongside the greats of West Indies cricket and three Twenty20 internationals in August and but is refusing to set a definite date for his retirement. September and Gayle believes that might be the time The swashbuckling opener is still hoping the West to bow out. “Maybe a Test match against India and Indies can sneak into the World Cup semi-finals, with definitely play the ODIs against India. I won’t play the India next in line at Old Trafford today, but the odds T20s. That’s my plan after the World Cup,” said a smil- are stacked heavily against them. ing Gayle, who last played Test cricket in 2014. Jason Holder’s team began the tournament with a Gayle, who has amassed more than 10,000 runs in comprehensive seven-wicket win against Pakistan but ODIs, admitted winning the World Cup would have soon lost momentum and that remains their only victo- been the ideal end to his career. Barring a freak set of ry in six matches. Self-styled “Universe Boss” Gayle, results, the two-time champions, who have three who hit 87 in his team’s heartbreaking five-run loss to games left, will be heading home before the semi- New Zealand on Saturday, said he would always cher- finals. ish his two decades playing for the West Indies. “What I really wanted was actually to be in that “I’m definitely up there with the greats, without a play-off,” said Gayle. “What I really wanted was to be doubt. Like I say, I enjoy each and every moment play- in that final four and then to be able to get my hands ing for West Indies,” Gayle said yesterday. “It’s still not on the World Cup. We’ll see what happens.” Holder the end. I still have a few games to go. Maybe another said Gayle had been a positive influence on the series to go. Who knows? We’ll see what happens.” younger players. “I started my career with the likes of Courtney “I think he’s done a hell of a job, more so off the Walsh, Curtly Ambrose,” he added. “You watch them field and also on the field. And he’s been obviously one on TV and you realise they’re in the dressing room, it’s who holds a presence in the dressing room,” said the just a bunch of guys.” The 39-year-old had previously skipper. “And the guys really look up to him and they hinted he could retire from one-day international shared a lot of knowledge over the past couple of MANCHESTER: West Indies’ Chris Gayle (R) and West Indies’ Oshane Thomas (L) at Old Trafford in Manchester, north- cricket after the World Cup but then prevaricated fol- weeks. He’s been firm when he had to be firm and he’s west England, yesterday, ahead of their group stage match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup against India. — AFP lowing a run-filled series against England. been honest.” —AFP good stead in the latter stages of the tournament. Australia’s Starc “It’s an interesting one. It’s a World Cup. I guess playing at Lord’s today, where the final is going to be, is great for us,” he said. “Obviously we are into the semi- England criticised reveals fan banter finals now so we have to make sure we play some good cricket, finish as high as we can in the group and hope- for not making inspired his fully get into that final.” Australia have two games left in the 10-team pool stage before the semi-finals begin and next up for the most of conditions England demolition leaders is a clash with fellow title contenders New Zealand on Saturday. Starc urged his team not to rest LONDON: Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc on their laurels and use the New Zealand clash to make against Australia revealed a breakfast confrontation with a bantering fan another statement of intent. inspired his ferocious spell in Tuesday’s World Cup win “Now we’ve got to play New Zealand, which is LONDON: England’s 64-run loss to Australia against England. Starc’s wife Alyssa Healy, who plays going to be tough for us,” he said. “They have gone in the World Cup on Tuesday left their semi- for the Australia Women’s team, brought the incident to under the radar. No-one has really spoken about them final qualification hopes in the balance and light on Twitter, claiming an England supporter had too much but they keep winning games. British media outlets settled on a similar fired up her husband with his taunts at the team hotel “They are playing some fantastic cricket. Kane theme, focusing on the hosts’ lack of applica- earlier in the day. Williamson is obviously their lynch-pin and they have tion as compared to their rivals. Starc confirmed he had been targeted but insisted good bowlers who swing it. It’s another big game.” Australia (12 points) sealed the first semi- the jibes weren’t especially hurtful. “I was still half- After a third defeat in the event, hosts England are now final spot with their sixth win while England- asleep. It was some bloke in a suit, having a go at my in danger of failing to qualify for the semi-finals despite fourth with eight points and two games left- strapping tape and having a go at my bowling. I was starting the World Cup as favourites due to their status must now keep one eye on other results with just hungry,” he said after taking four wickets in as the world’s top-ranked ODI side. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka breathing down Australia’s 64-run win over their old rivals at Lord’s. Starc doesn’t believe the comfortable nature of Australia’s success doesn’t mean England should be their necks. “He was just having a laugh at my strapping tape and written off just yet. “England are a heck of a side and I England great Geoffrey Boycott called what I was eating. I had a few poached eggs, three I Mitchell Starc think they are still definitely favourites, but they’ve got their batsmen “one-dimensional” and “flat- think. “It’s all been good fun throughout the tour around the crowds and at the hotel. It’s just part and some work to do,” he said. track bullies” and that was evident from some parcel of a World Cup.” Starc had plenty to do with England’s downfall as he watching that game against Sri Lanka he nearly got of their dismissals by bowlers Jason Starc believes the holders’ comprehensive win was ripped the heart out of their batting line-up, with an them home with that 80-odd he scored,” Starc said. Behrendorff (5-44) and Mitchell Starc (4-43), the perfect preparation for the World Cup knockout assist from Jason Behrendorff, who grabbed his first “We knew while he was batting we couldn’t rest up who thrived in seam-friendly conditions. stages after Aaron Finch’s side sealed a place in the five-wicket ODI haul. The decisive blow came when and cruise. We had to keep taking wickets. Fortunately “England have simply been unable to deal semi-finals. Australia dominated from start to finish Starc produced a stunning yorker to bowl Ben Stokes, I got one through the gate. “I’ve said it for a while, with surfaces that have not allowed them to against one of their main rivals for the title and Starc effectively removing England’s last line of resistence. execution is a big part of this bowling group and me play their go-to explosive and aggressive expects the impressive performance to stand them in “He’s a fantastic player one of their key batters, personally as well.” —AFP game,” former cricketer Steve James wrote in The Times. “(Eoin) Morgan said afterwards that it would have been a ‘horrific’ decision to bat first... in these conditions, but from now on should he consider batting first? That is How can England Brumbies’ Powell three losses chasing now.” Although England won the toss and elected to bowl at an overcast Lord’s, Morgan was let rescue faltering keen to show up down by his bowlers as Australia’s patient 123-run opening stand gave them a platform World Cup bid? mentor Cubelli to set a competitive total. By contrast, England were stumbling at LONDON: England are in grave danger of leaving their own in Super semi 26-3 with James Vince, Joe Root and party early after slumping to a third defeat at the World Cup, Morgan back in the pavilion by the end of raising serious questions over their ability to cope with the BUENOS AIRES: ACT Brumbies scrumhalf Joe Powell has the sixth over. pressure. The hosts have become the undisputed top dogs in more than just a place in the Super Rugby final to motivate “England were guilty of bowling too short one-day cricket since an embarrassingly limp display at the him when the Australians meet the Jaguares in the semi- 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. But beating in seam-friendly conditions as Aaron Finch final tomorrow. teams in bilateral series is one thing-doing it on the biggest (100) and David Warner (53) made headway He also has a mentor to upstage.