Cricket talking points: BCCI’s image makeover, Chris Gayle U-turn, Rangana Herath calls time

Chris Gayle. Punit Paranjpe / AFP

Rangana Herath. Dinuka Liyanawatte / Reuters

A look back on the major talking points in international cricket over the past week.

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Image makeover

If there is a guide to undoing the work of N Srinivasan, then the Board of Control for Cricket India (BCCI) is writing it right now.

Under Shashank Manohar, the BCCI has acted almost in permanent reaction to Srinivasan’s BCCI. Already the work of the Big Three is being undone, including, potentially, the BCCI cutting its own revenue share. This week the BCCI announced that it had waived away the US$42 million (Dh154.2m) it claimed it was owed by West Indies after their players abandoned a 2014 tour to India midway through. Then the BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur announced that one of India’s Tests against New Zealand later this year will be a day-night game. New Zealand were caught a little off guard by that announcement but even if it remains just a gesture, the intent is clear: we are not that BCCI anymore.

Gayle U-turn

“I think it’s a pretty significant mis-hit by Chris Gayle,” said James Sutherland, the chief executive of Cricket Australia, a day after Gayle had made inappropriate comments on air to a female broadcaster. “There’s no place in cricket or the Big Bash League for those sorts of comments.”

Pretty clear right?

Not so much, as it turns out Sutherland now thinks there is a place in the BBL for Gayle. He said over the weekend: “My view is unless there’s a very, very strong reason along the lines of anti-corruption, then it’s difficult for us to be making those judgements.”

Not that Gayle is certain to be there this year in any case. He did not make a huge on-field impact last year for the Melbourne Renegades, until that last innings, a 12-ball fifty.

Winning the World Twenty20, though, as Gayle has since, cannot help but see stocks rise.

Herath begins the end

Rangana Herath had the hardest job in cricket: stepping into the shoes of Muttiah Muralitharan.

How do you even begin to? Herath has forged a way, in very different style, though not to any huge loss in effectiveness. Since Muralitharan’s retirement in July 2010, Herath has 226 wickets in 45 Tests, or, five wickets a Test, which is still considered a gold standard rate in Tests.

Last week, however, he announced his retirement from the shorter formats of the game, leaving him free to concentrate on Tests. He needs three wickets to become the third Sri Lankan to 300 Test wickets but confesses that he sees no major goals beyond that target.

At 38, with wonky knees, how much longer can he go on? Sri Lanka have lost two legends in recent years and cannot afford to lose another just yet. The question is unavoidable though: who will fill Herath’s shoes?