'Been an honour'
After signing off with a typically blistering 77 off 27 balls in his final home ODI, opener Chris Gayle reflected on his two-decade international career, and what it meant playing for the West Indies.
In a thoughtful and emotional farewell speech on Saturday, Gayle expressed his gratitude to the people of the Caribbean for their support through this series and his career. With two centuries and two fifties in four matches, Gayle was the biggest thorn in England's side.
"This is my last ODI series in the Caribbean," Gayle said. "So I was giving the fans a nice wave. Right through the tournament, they have been superb from both sides: West Indies and England sides. It would be nice if it was in Jamaica, but the crowds have been fantastic.
"It's been an honour to wear the crest and entertain the people around the Caribbean. West Indies is No.1. This is the best achievement you can have in the Caribbean as a cricketer. This is the best thing, to be honest with you."
Since announcing his retirement, Gayle has scored 424 runs in four matches at a strike-rate of 134, leaving many, including himself, wondering why he's walking away.
Gayle had been a diminishing force before the start of this series. Runs had deserted him in T20 leagues around the world.
"I'm thankful for the form," he said. "I wasn't getting any runs in the T20 tournaments I was playing. When you get a chance to score runs, make sure you score heavy. But it's the best [I've played] in my home conditions and I'm happy and grateful for that.”
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