IPL 2018: Will be keeping eye on Chris Gayle, says Heath Streak

On the eve of their match against Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowling coach Heath Streak said they would be keeping an eye on Chris Gayle, who blasted an unbeaten 104 off 63 deliveries in a winning cause against Sun Risers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday.

Asked about plans to contain Gayle, Streak said he wouldn’t be able to tell the exact plan as it would be a give away to Gayle.

“He (Gayle) is a dangerous player. We will be keeping an eye on him. How you start is important because if you allow someone like him to settle in his rhythm and confidence, he can get very dangerous. He is so powerful and he backs his ability when the ball is in his zone, to clear the boundary,” Streak said ahead of their practice session at the Eden Gardens.

Asked about the reason behind the popularity of Carribean players in the IPL, Streak said, “They enjoy it. I think they get bored  playing the long format. They are becoming highly specialised in this format of the game. They also have the physical attribute. Guys like Gayle, (Kieron) Pollard and (Andre) Russell are so strong that even their mishits go over the boundary.”