Hats off to Gayle, Patterson

Former West Indies opening batsman, Chris Gayle, and former fast bowler, Patrick Patterson, will be honoured at the Vice Chancellor's cricket match against the touring Bangladesh team at Sabina Park tomorrow.

The one-day affair, a day and night match, starts at 2 p.m.

Both cricketers are being honoured by the University of the West Indies for their services to West Indies cricket, services which Vice Chancellor, Sir Hilary Beckles, describes as "brilliant and unforgettable".

A powerful, hard-hitting left-hander, Gayle represented the West Indies in 103 Test matches during which he scored 7,214 runs, 15 centuries, including two triple centuries, 317 and 333, at an average of 42.17; 281 one-day internationals during which he scored 9,285 runs and 23 centuries, including a top score of 215, at an average of 37.00; and 56 T20 Internationals and scored 1,603 runs, two centuries, including a top score off 117, and an average of 33.47.

Probably the most devastating batsman of all time, and a former West Indies captain, Gayle is one of four batsmen, the others being Don Bradman of Australia, Virender Sehwaq of India, and Brian Lara of the West Indies, to score 300 runs or more twice in Test cricket.

STRONG BOWLER

A big, strong fast bowler, Patterson played in 28 Test matches, claimed 93 wickets, including best figures of five for 24, and an average of 30.90, and in one-day internationals, he played in 89 matches and hauled in 90 wickets with a best of six for 29.

His blistering pace also saw "Patto" returning figures of five for 24 versus India at Delhi in 1987, five for 68 against Indian at Mumbai in 1987, five for 83 versus Australia in 1991, and five for 87 against England in 1991.

Patterson probably will be remembered for those days at Sabina Park in January 1986 when, in company with Courtney Walsh, Holding, and Aaron Daley, he sent first Guyana and the Leeward Islands crashing, not to defeat, but to embarrassing totals.