Chris Gayle expresses concern about Test cricket's future

While speaking about the future of Test cricket, West Indies opening batter Chris Gayle expressed worries about the game's future. He urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to constantly support lower-ranked nations in playing the longest format.

Gayle has appeared in 103 Test matches for the West Indies, scoring 7215 runs at a 42.19 average. He has 15 hundreds to his name, including two triple hundreds. Don Bradman, Brian Lara, and Virender Sehwag are the other three players who have scored more than one triple hundred. 

Chris Gayle says the big three nations in cricket, India, England, and Australia, are playing more test matches against each other, while lower-ranked teams are getting one or two Test matches.

"Test cricket is in a bit of trouble. I'm worried more for the lower ranked teams. They are not getting the full support. The game is such a business now, and you have the lower ranked teams getting one or two Test matches," said Gayle on TalkSport radio.

"It's always about England, India and Australia. Those are the big teams who play four or five Test matches against each other, we don't get that chance with the lower ranked teams. It's a struggle for us. We are always going to be down at the bottom, and that's not good for the sport. It's going to be a big challenge and the ICC needs to look into that. That's very key."

Gayle is considered one of the greatest T20 players of all time, having scored 14562 runs in 463 matches. He didn't expect the shortest format of the game to gain popularity in such a short period of time.

"At first, I was looking the easy way. Shorter format, you can finish early. I wasn't really looking into the future. I didn't really expect what's happening today. Since that game, the Stanford game, the $20 million game. It changed everything in the T20 game."

"That's why you watch so many leagues now. IPL is the biggest and pays more. You can get a future from this sport. T20 cricket is a life-changing aspect, it changes the lives of a lot of people. That's my I am very happy with where I am today."

Ben Stokes was announced as England's 81st Test captain after the resignation of Joe Root. His first test series as full-time captain will be against New Zealand in a three-match series at home in the summer.

Chris Gayle believes that Ben Stokes will be the right choice for England's Test captain. However, Gayle believes that former Captain Joe Root and his teammates will provide the necessary support for the new captain.

"I think the best option is to have a guy like Ben Stokes, he has been around world-class players and is a proper all-rounder. I think he is the best option to captain the England side. Joe, it was difficult for Root to step down, but I am sure he (Stokes) will get full support from Root and the rest of the players.

"He's a guy, based on what he has said, who is more focused on England cricket right now, which is good. But, he's looking to accomplish more in the sport, within the international side of things," Gayle added.

From 2007 to 2010, the Southpaw captained the West Indies in 20 Test matches. He believes that the captaincy helped him grow as an individual and won't affect the players' form.

"It didn't affect mine! It made me a better person. It grows you and you know how to relate to people more. You know who's for you. It gives you a challenge, and when the pressure is on, that's when you know who is there for you and who will fight for you. It's really a good thing to be a captain and always a privilege to lead your country as well."