(Sportsmax) Windies star batsman Chris Gayle is a doubt for the second ODI in Christchurch after being afflicted with an unnamed illness during the first match.
Cast in the role of the team’s saviour for better results in the ODI series the 38-year-old left-hander was dismissed for 22 when the regional team opened the batting against the Black Caps. He was then conspicuously absent when the team fielded to defend its total of 248.
Windies head coach Stuart Law confirmed that the player had fallen sick ahead of the team’s return to the field, but claimed he could not elaborate further on the circumstances.
“He took ill,” Law said when asked why Gayle hadn’t returned to the field.
“He’s going to seek further medical advice once we arrive in Christchurch tomorrow. At this point in time I can’t give you any further details of what’s going on,” he added.
The coach went on to explain that he was not in a position to comment further on the player’s future availability for the rest of the series.
“I’m not a doctor,” he said. “I can’t give you any more, so I apologise. We should get a full appraisal tomorrow.”
Sent in to bat, Gayle and Evin Lewis, posted 40 off the first 10.1 overs before the batsman was dismissed. The team’s total of 248 for 9, was easily overhauled by New Zealand with four overs to spare and five wickets still to come.
