BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – Former prominent cricket administrator Jackie Hendriks has questioned the return of veterans Chris Gayle and Fidel Edwards for the recent Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka.
The 87-year-old, who played 20 Tests for the West Indies between 1962 and 1969, said he was “amazed” by the selection of 41-year-old Gayle, describing the selectors’ destination for the 39-year-old Edwards as “Extend ”.
Instead, Hendriks believes selectors may have invested in younger players for the three-game series that West Indies went on to win 2-1.
“I’m really pleased that we won. I was a little surprised that Chris was brought into the team at this stage, ”said Hendriks, a longtime Jamaican Cricket Association president and director of West India Cricket, while speaking on Starcom Radio’s Mason and Guest cricket show.
“I was wondering what the reason was but of course he’s been a tremendous player over the years but I was a little surprised at his age in life.
“I don’t know what went on in their (selectors) minds. I do not know. I certainly would have thought it was just past it right now and having young people around, I would have gone for them.
“But of course, pickers are on the spot and they know what they’re doing.”
He added: “[Edwards was] another question mark in my books. I would have thought that was a bit stretchy but again, the selectors must have some good reason for that. ”
Gayle and Edwards’ selection raised some eyebrows. Although Gayle had not appeared in T20 International in two years, Edwards had not played international cricket in nearly a decade.
Nor did he dispel those doubts in the series, with the Gayle on the left scraping 29 runs from three outings and Edwards grabbing one wicket of six overs before being dropped for the decisive final.
Hendriks said Gayle’s excellent service to West Indies cricket could have been difficult for selectors to ignore, especially after the player made himself available.
“I had really wondered the reason behind the choice. I thought it was probably brought back to strengthen the batting but… it didn’t have a very good series, ”the former ICC referee noted.
“I guess some other young player, for me, would have been more acceptable.”
He added: “Chris has done a lot of good yummy service for the West Indies and said he was available so maybe that made the selectors think twice.”
West Indies are building up to their defense of the T20 World Cup scheduled to take place in October in India.
Gayle was a member of the squad that won the final show, which was also held in India five years ago.