A big boy needs a big bat: Gayle slams ICC

Melbourne: Destructive West Indies opener Chris Gayle openly criticised the ICC’s proposed crackdown on the size of bats, which came just a few days before the cricket World Cup which begins next week. 

“A big boy needs a big bat,” Gayle said. 

“People keep saying it has become a batsman’s game, but bowlers are becoming more skillful too,” he said.

Reports said the International Cricket Council was considering a limit on bat size though changes in this respect are unlikely to occur immediately. 

ICC chief executive Dave Richardson said the modern-day cricket “may have shifted a little bit too much” towards the batsman, especially in limited overs cricket. 

Recently retired Australian quick Brett Lee surprisingly threw his support behind Gayle. 

“I think that if players like Gayle and Warner are strong enough to lift a bat that heavy, at that speed, then good for them, it makes the game a hell of a lot more exciting.” 

But others, like former Australian ODI batsman Michael Bevan, agreed with the sentiments of ICC chief executive Richardson. 

“Bats have improved at a far greater rate than balls, there has to be an even balance if it becomes too lopsided and becomes a six-fest then no one wants to watch that either,” said Bevan, considered one of the best finishers in one-day cricket.

(WIth inputs from PTI)