Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Chris Gayle of the West Indies drives off the back foot during his innings of 60 not out against England in the one day International cricket match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, June 27, 2004. West Indies defeated England by seven wickets. - REUTERS
JAMAICA AND West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle is anxious to return to competitive cricket by month-end, this according to a report posted on the web site ecb.co.uk yesterday.
"I really want to play cricket," Gayle was quoted on the web site ecb.co.uk as saying.
"It has not been easy for me to sit and watch from the sidelines," added Gayle, who has played 54 Test matches for the West Indies.
"I am hoping to resume training this week and hopefully I will be able to represent Jamaica before the end of the Carib Beer Series."
Gayle scored a century in each innings of last year's Carib Beer Challenge Final against the Leeward Islands at Alpart.
The opener, who hit six fours in one over off England's Matthew Hoggard, said while he will be missing out on this weekend's game against Trinidad & Tobago and next week's clash against Barbados, "I am hoping to be back for the Guyana game (January 27-30)".
HEART SURGERY
He underwent heart surgery last month and explained why he underwent surgery in the middle of the tour Down Under, thus missing the final Test of the series which West Indies lost 3-0.
"I have been struggling with this heart condition for a while and so I decided to do the surgery and get it out of the way once and for all," Gayle said.
FORCED TO LEAVE FIELD
Gayle, who doubles as a right-handed off-spinner, was forced to leave the field due to his heart problem in the second Test. He sais he was assured by the doctor that the chances of the problem occurring again is slim.
"The doctor actually said that there is only a one percent chance that I will have the problem again and that makes me very optimistic," said the batsman who average 38.79 in 95 Test innings.
"The operation went well and the doctors were very optimistic about a full recovery."
