Gayle is a very smart bowler, and he can keep going on for a long time, like a specialist. He bowls wicket to wicket and can make up for a missing spinner. He is more or less an all-rounder for the West Indies, a genuine one, even if not a very classy one to look at. You can replace a spinner with Chris Gayle, but not Sehwag.
In terms of skill, they're both at a reasonably similar level, Gayle varying his speed and flight a bit better but Sehwag getting more turn. It's hard to know whether Sehwag can bowl as long spells as Gayle does because he rarely needs to. I would, however, point you in the direction of his five-fer against Australia.
Gayle is a steady, straight bowler, but he has tremendous control over his deliveries. Sehwag sprays it all around, and has no control over the turn he gets. Neither the West Indians nor the Indians have an all-rounder otherwise. Gayle has had to fill in as the all-rounder for his team, and he's done it nicely. Likewise, Sanath for Sri Lanka. Both of them are regular bowling options for their teams. On the other hand, despite an all-too obvious vacancy in the Indian team, Sehwag has never consistently played as an all-rounder. For that Sehwag five-for (which could help him replace Kumble as a bowler then- yet an injured, struggling Kumble had to be brought back), I can bring up two by Gayle, along with two four-wicket hauls. Gayle is a practical choice as a full bowler, but Sehwag isn't. This is exactly the kind of role we expect from any batsman who can bowl.
TBH, one of the things I hate most about cricket is that a bowler like Gayle can be successful. It devalues the game.
Yeah, he hasn't played many Tests though and he only has one First Class fifty in 120+ games at an average of under 12, so I expect that to drop.
A thing I can live with, considering the benefits of it.
Check out Stu Broad's FC record.Yeah, he hasn't played many Tests though and he only has one First Class fifty in 120+ games at an average of under 12, so I expect that to drop.
He certainly looks a bit better than his First Class record would have us believe but I don't think he'll finish his career with an average above 15 unless he bowls terrible in this series and gets dropped.
Oh, undoubtedly. But will slow up over rates towards the end of the innings which people will use a a critiscism.
I've seen it, and used it as part of my anti-Broad rants.
Neither would I. He looks a fair bit better than his FC record suggests. I think 17 in Tests is a tad high though; I expect him to average in the 13-14 range by the end of his career. Pretty standard #9 stuff.
Possibly not after seeing how the pitch was going to play, but sadly you do not get that kind of insight at the toss!
