Chris Gayle confirms his availability for England series next year

Chris Gayle is preparing for World Cup 2019 while playing in the T20 leagues.

Chris Gayle wants to play England series next year | Getty Images

West Indies’ batting superman Chris Gayle doesn’t want to move away from West Indies Cricket, as the swashbuckling big-hitter has confirmed on Tuesday (October 16) that he will be available for the national selection for the England series next year.

At the moment, Gayle is playing in the ongoing Afghanistan Premier League (APL), but assured that he will be available to play in the home series against England next year.

The 39-year-old, who had recently pulled out from the India and Bangladesh tour, further went on to claim that he is currently focusing on scoring runs in the franchise leagues across the globe in a bid to be at the top shape for the World Cup 2019 and World Cup T20 2020.

Gayle told reporters, “I am definitely available for selection against England. At this moment, scoring runs in these leagues [franchise cricket] is important as everything can be seen as being geared up towards the World Cup.”

He signed off by saying, “I've merely got to manage my time, my schedule and my body to ensure that I am in top shape. After this (APL), there is a lot of cricket to come. We have the T10 cricket and after that, we have so much more cricket by the time of the World Cup. I feel that at this juncture, it is all about clicking at the right time and having fun playing.”

Noteworthy, the West Indies are set to host England for three Tests, three T20 Internationals and five One Day Internationals next year. They will also play three warm-ups before Test series get underway from 23 January at Kensington Oval, Barbados.

Here is the full schedule between West Indies and England series:
Tue Jan 15-Fri Jan 18 - Tour match, Three Ws Oval, Barbados

Wed Jan 23-Sun Jan 27 - 1st Test, Kensington Oval, Barbados
Thu Jan 31-Mon Feb 4 - 2nd Test, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
Sat Feb 9-Wed Feb 13 - 3rd Test, Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia

Sun Feb 17 - 50-over Tour match, Three Ws Oval, Barbados

Wed Feb 20 - 1st ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados
Fri Feb 22 - 2nd ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados
Mon Feb 25 - 3rd ODI, National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
Wed Feb 27 - 4th ODI, National Cricket Stadium, Grenada
Sat Mar 2 - 5th ODI, Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia

Tue Mar 5 - 1st T20, Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, St Lucia
Fri Mar 8 - 2nd T20, Warner Park, St Kitts
Sun Mar 10 - 3rd T20 Warner Park, St Kitts

(Input: International Cricket Council)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 16 Oct, 2018

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