Call a spade ...

By RETIRED CRICKETER

Many discussions have been held as to whether or not Mr Christopher Gayle, former West Indies cricket captain, should or should not have been referred to as a don by a member of the West Indies Cricket Board.

Most Jamaicans have emotionally, but not rationally, formed the view that Mr Gayle is no don; and that only the Barbadian member of the WICB would be audacious enough to refer to the big man in this seemingly distasteful language.

Now, let us look dispassionately at some of the matters attributable to Mr Gayle in relation to his association with the WICB.

1) After Mr Gayle's first tour with the West Indies team, news surfaced that his attitude was less than what was required. For that and/or for other reasons, he did not go on the next tour with the WI team.

2) When South Africa toured the West Indies, Mr Gayle, along with others, withdrew their services from the WI team, allegedly because of insufficient pay. It was only after a long and acrimonious negotiation that a resumption was agreed.

3) Mr Gayle's public outbursts prior to being appointed captain of the West Indies were such as could be described as veiled threats. Nonetheless, he was appointed captain.

4) Mr Gayle's arrival in England a day or two before the start of a Test match to captain a West Indies team clearly indicated that he was too good a player to be expected to play by ordinary rules. Where was he coming from? He was coming from playing (more lucrative) club cricket in India.

5) Correct me if I am wrong, but is it not during that tour that Mr Gayle expressed the views that he was weary of captaincy of the team, and how disenchanted he had become with Test cricket?

6) Following that series, Mr Gayle and others again withdrew their services for the reason that the fees being offered for the tour of England were unsatisfactory. My understanding is that the fees demanded were over 70 per cent of the gross earnings, leaving less than 30 per cent approximately to cover such other expenses as travelling, accommodation, administration, etc.

7) Finally, did not Mr Gayle refuse to sign the retainer contract that the West Indies Players Association had worked so hard to secure?

Some of the characteristics of a don are his obvious talent (and/or strengths); his selfishness; his shrewdness (or doggedness); and, lastly, his power or influence by any means possible.

In closing, the questions to be asked are: Did Mr Gayle learn anything from Mr Lara? Has the WICB learnt anything from the behaviour of either Mr Gayle or Mr Lara? If so, what? Was the Prince a Don, and was the Don a chip off the Prince's block?