Usain Bolt to play cricket

...well cricket of sorts.

Cricket-Bolt to feature in Jamaican cricket tournament
2009-10-14 23:17:10 GMT (Reuters)

By Simon Evans

MIAMI, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Triple Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt will switch his running spikes for cricket pads on Sunday when he takes part in a tournament in Jamaica.

Bolt will play in a mini-tournament in Discovery Bay organised by West Indies captain Chris Gayle and featuring current and former players from the region.

"In terms of sport, cricket is my first love," he said in a statement.

"I grew up watching cricketers like Courtney Walsh take the West Indies to new heights -- and I am a big admirer of Chris Gayle for his power batting and calm attitude; he is my favourite player right now. So, to have the chance to play with these guys is a dream come true for me."

The four-match, one-day tournament will also feature current West Indies players such as Ramnaresh Sarwan and Jerome Taylor up against former favourites such as Courtney Walsh, Richie Richardson and Curtley Ambrose, as well as local youth players. (Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Bolt was on Sydney wireless a few months ago. He said he played circket as a teenager but his own teammates sledged him because his run-up was faster than his delivery

Yep, I have heard his bowling is distinctly medium paced but he has a high arm action

Btw this event is organised by Chris Gayle to make money for the development of cricket in schools in the area. He has organised a number of these tournaments, as has Sarwan who puts a lot of money into youth cricket in Guyana.

So much for the 'selfish, money grabbing' senior West Indies players.

When did Courtney Walsh take the West Indies to new heights?

JAMAICAN ME CRAZY~!

relax, mon

At least he'll be quick between the wickets.

Usain can do anything, gotta just lurv him

He dismissed Chris Gayle in the semi-final . His team are in the final, facing a side captained by Jerome Taylor.

lol!

this guy is great! I am sure his run up and bowling action is similar to Waqar Younis?

And if Bolt gets one on the toe when batting, and suffers a bad break...?

Will he be a specialist 'runner'?

To piss Graeme Smith off?

LMAO, I'm sorry I missed it. Ha ha ha specialist runner, ha ha ha. There is absolutely nothing the man can't do!!!

WIFAN wrote:He dismissed Chris Gayle in the semi-final . His team are in the final, facing a side captained by Jerome Taylor.

Saw a clip from the game. After he dismissed Gayle, he did the aeroplane then walked up behind Gayle, tapped him on the shoulder, and when Crystal turned around, Bolt did the throat slashing sign and his famous Super-Usain point to the sky.

Crystal just leaned on his bat and laughed. Great stuff!!

Great stuff Skully.

Bolt also bowled a bumper at Gayle first ball. Gayle then smacked his next ball out of the park. But as usual, Bolt had the last laugh.

He had a quick cameo with the bat and effected a run out too.

Is this jolly japes on Youtube at all anywhere?

His bowling was actually quite nippy. I am seriously impressed. The guy is just ridiculously talented.

Sweet.

You can tell he's played cricket to some level at least.

Yeah, though the last time he played cricket before this was when he was 14 years old. I suppose it's not that surprising that he can bowl with a bit of pace as he has all the attributes of the stereotypical West Indian fast bowler.

I'm not sure what a match referee would make of his send off for Gayle.....

Hmm, seemed about 80ish to me. Not express at any rate. Was a good ball to dismiss Gayle. Was funny to watch the send off.

Good fun. Great guy.

I wonder how good he could have been if he had stuck with cricket.

Brass Monkey wrote:Hmm, seemed about 80ish to me. Not express at any rate. Was a good ball to dismiss Gayle. Was funny to watch the send off.

Precisely, 80ish for a guy who hasn't played cricket since he was 14 is awesome. I play cricket loads and the quickest I can bowl is about 75mph from a farkin long run up and I am absolutely knackered afterwards

Then again I'm not the greatest athlete the World has ever seen.......................

How exactly did he get Gayle out?

inside edge onto stumps. gayle tried to cut a ball that was too full and too close