Windies youngsters exposing a mercenary Gayle with their spirit: Roebuck

Noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck is of the firm view that West Indies captain Chris Gayle has once again betrayed his position and his talent with a craven and idle performance ill-befitting any Test batsman, during the Gabba Test.

In a syndicated column for the Sydney Morning Herald, Roebuck reiterated that Gayle is still sticking to his mercenary ways, and that youngsters in the squad were showing more spirit and drive in taking on the Australian juggernaut.

“Although half the player,  (Trevor) Dowlin fought with every power at his disposal to keep his wicket intact and improve his team's position. (Adrian) Barath pointed the way forward with an innings of skill and spirit, a combination thin on the ground in this line-up. In height and ability, Gayle is head and shoulders above these newcomers. As far as grit and attitude are concerned, they are his superiors,” claims Roebuck.

He believes the Jamaican continues to chase the dollar on and off the field and is not playing proper cricket to boot.

“Lacking idealism, he has failed to give his side any sense of direction. A team crying out for leadership has looked in vain towards the languid left-hander. To put it mildly, the notion that he is nurturing a group of talented youngsters capable of upholding the reputation of West Indian cricket is optimistic,” Roebuck adds.

“Over the decades the West Indies hase not produced many strong opening pairs. Part of the reason the team flourished in the 1970s and '80s was because Roy Fredericks, Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes took the shine off the ball,” he says.

He concludes by saying that both Dowlin and Barath are entitled to be dismayed by the crass efforts of their elders and supposed betters.