Gayle lashes Strauss, Test cricket and captaincy

Chris Gayle has admitted that he never really wanted the captaincy of the West Indian cricket team, and also claimed that he would be perfectly happy if Twenty20 cricket were to kill off the Test match game.

In an extraordinary interview with the Guardian, Gayle apparently reveals that he will not be leading the Windies for too much longer. "To be honest with you there's a possibility I might give it [the captaincy] up – I will be giving it up, shortly." The news is sure to further dampen West Indian team morale ahead of the second Test against England which starts on Thursday in Durham. Gayle's under-prepared side lost the first Test at Lord's by ten wickets after being asked to follow on, a result that put the captain under particular scrutiny after he deigned only to show up in England two days before the start of the game because of his IPL commitments.

But Gayle is keen to point out that the two Test series against England was arranged long after the IPL. “They [the media] make it look like this [Test] was always here, like I want to choose IPL over this," the 29-year-old complains. “That's why I said everybody knew this was always going to be the situation, so I don't see why people make it a big fuss and a big deal."

One of those helping kick up the fuss was Gayle's counterpart, England captain Andrew Strauss who claimed that he would not have allowed any of his players to only show up for a Test match a couple of days in advance. "Doesn't concern him [Strauss]," said an indignant Gayle. "Focus on his team, don't worry about West Indies, don't worry about me. Tell him don't sleep with Chris on his mind, tell him get Chris off his mind."

And the opening batsman also suggested that Strauss was only concerned about the sanctity of the Test game for selfish reasons. "I wouldn't be so sad [if Test cricket were to disappear]" said Gayle. "Some other players would be. Maybe Andrew Strauss would be sad. Maybe he will be sad if Test cricket dies and Twenty20 comes in. Because there is no way he can make the change. So tough luck."