Chris Gayle. Photo / Hawkes Bay Today
West Indies skipper Chris Gayle is in danger of missing the one-day international series against Australia after injuring his side while playing Twenty20 for Western Australia.
Big-hitting Gayle suffered the painful injury while batting during the Warriors' loss to South Australia at the Waca on Tuesday night and was to
undergo scans to determine the extent of the damage.
The West Indies take on Australia in five one-dayers from February 7-19 but a serious tear would almost certainly rule Gayle out of the series.
Gayle, who was heavily iced after the Warriors' 29-run loss, suffered the injury in the second over of WA's run chase after the Redbacks posted 6-196.
The 30-year-old immediately grabbed at his left side after attempting to heave a Mark Cleary delivery over the rope.
He battled on for three more overs but slumped to his knees in agony after cracking his eighth boundary and left the field, with his score an impressive 40 off just 16 balls.
A WA collapse forced Gayle back into the action in the 16th over, but he was clearly hampered by the complaint and added just four more runs before skying a catch to wicketkeeper Graham Manou, with the Warriors eventually bowled out for 167.
Even if scans show no tear, Gayle is almost certain to miss WA's away clash with Tasmania on January 1.
But Waca officials will be praying Gayle returns for the Warriors' home game against NSW on January 5.
A Waca Twenty20 record 17,308 fans turned out to watch Gayle's WA debut and the Jamaican was the clear crowd favourite, even exciting with the ball when his off-spinning bouncer removed Redbacks blaster Mark Cosgrove.
Stand-in WA skipper Adam Voges was hopeful the damage to Gayle was not severe.
"I batted with him for a little while and he was in a fair bit of pain," Voges said. "He uses big heavy bats and he swings pretty hard.
"He doesn't know [if it's torn], he just said he's in a fair bit of pain in his side somewhere.
"It would be a huge blow [if he's ruled out] to be honest.
"It's a pretty quick turnaround before our next game on New Year's Day so if he is out it's going to be a huge loss."
- AAP
