Chris Gayle, the West Indies legend, has been described as the “best T20 batter ever” by former England player, Jos Buttler. The former captain and wicket-keeper spoked of Gayle’s magnificence on Tuesday, the day before West Indies are due to meet England in their second match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The England team will include Bajans Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell, as they clash at the Wankhede in Mumbai.
It was ten years ago when Buttler witnessed first-hand Gayle’s unmatched power-hitting as the towering opener destroyed England’s bowlers at the same ground. In that match he blasted 11 towering sixes in a record score of 100 not out off just 48 balls as the Windies won by six wickets. It was his second T20 World Cup century – the other was 117 against South Africa in Johannesburg in the first match of the inaugural World Cup in 2007. West Indies would later meet England again in the final, which they won in the most sensational finale in the game’s history.
“I do remember. I had a good view for that. I actually think Moeen (Ali) bowled an unbelievable spell of bowling at him and then he decided to hit the last three balls he faced off Mo for three sixes so – Chris Gayle is the best T20 batter there’s ever been so yeah ten years ago, hopefully the result can be different tomorrow night,” Buttler told a media conference at the ground.
The match will be played tonight under lights. Play is due to start at 7pm local time (9:30am Barbados Time). Going into the contest West Indies leave the group with two points (net run rate +1.75) from their win last Saturday against Scotland at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. England also have two points (net run rate +0.20) from their close win over Nepal.
