Gaylestorm

Sir Garfield's advice pays off for Gayle

St John's (Antigua): Chris Gayle admitted that advice from West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers played a major role in his epic triple hundred in the fourth and final Test against South Africa here. Gayle has made 317 in a West Indies total of 565 for five, replying to South Africa's first innings total of 588 for six declared, to become the fourth West Indies batsman to hit a Test triple hundred. Teammate and former West Indies captain Brian Lara heads the list, with his world record 400 not out last year, and 375 in 1994 against England, both coming at the Antigua Recreation Ground. Sir Garfield, who held the previous world record of 365 not out against Pakistan at Kingston in 1958, and Gayle's fellow Jamaican Lawrence Rowe with his silky 302 against England at Bridgetown in 1974, have also reached such rare heights for West Indies. "I have been working hard with Sir Garfield in the nets and it really paid off in this match," said Gayle. "He has talked a lot to us about keeping our balance when playing strokes and giving momentum to our innings. "We spent a long time in the indoor nets in Barbados - Wavell Hinds, Sir Garfield, and myself - and we talked about a lot of things, and I was fortunate that it paid off for me in this innings." AFP