West Indian batting legend Chris Gayle challenged Jamaican spring king Usain Bolt to a race. (PHOTOS: Screengrabs via ICC)
West Indian batting legend Chris Gayle has spoken about the time Jamaican spring king Usain Bolt got his wicket in a friendly game which led the flamboyant batter to challenge the sprinter to a race.
“Till this day, he’s still afraid of me. Doesn’t want to see me on a 100m track,” Gayle tells ICC in a new video released by cricket’s world governing body before breaking into a chuckle.
He goes on to add: “Of course I’m a sprinter. All Usain Bolt will be seeing is a lot of dust and the Universe Boss just going down the stretch.”
To this, Bolt responds: “We all know Chris can’t run. We have seen him. We know Chris doesn’t do quick singles or anything. We’re not worried about Chris.”
I’m just gonna leave this right here for the fans to decide @henrygayle 🤫 pic.twitter.com/IhDx5XDVkj
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) April 24, 2024
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Responding to this, Gayle says: “That’s a big lie. I run a lot of ones, twos, threes, you name it… sometimes even fours. So Bolt, get your running spikes ready. And if you want to bring any other athlete along, you know, Yohan Blake, Asafa Powell, anybody. Somebody gonna come fourth. And it’s not me!”
Talking about Bolt taking his wicket, Gayle said that the incident had happened at a charity match where Bolt had bowled a “damn good bouncer” at him, following which he told himself to not hold back at the “fun game”.
“After the bouncer I said to myself, it’s a fun game. What am I doing? So I start smashing him. Hit him for one or two sixes and probably for a few fours. Then, eventually, I get an inside edge onto the stumps,” said Gayle.
Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medallist, has been named as an ambassador for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Bolt grew up playing cricket in the Caribbean Island of Jamaica. He turned his attention to athletics and running when urged to try track and field events by his cricket coach in high school.
“Coming from the Caribbean where Cricket is a part of life, the sport has always held a special place in my heart, and I am honoured to be part of such a prestigious tournament. I look forward to bringing my energy and enthusiasm to the World Cup and contributing to the growth of cricket globally,” he told ICC.
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