An igniting match

Match heads

A match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface.^[1] Matches are usually sold in quantity; wooden ones are packaged in boxes, and paper matches are clustered in rows stapled into matchbooks. They are commonly sold by tobacconists and many other kinds of shops. The coated end of a match, known as the match "head," contains either phosphorus or phosphorus sesquisulfide as the active ingredient and gelatin as a binder. There are two main types of matches: safety matches, which can be struck only against a specially prepared surface, and strike-anywhere matches, for which any suitably frictional surface can be used. Some match-like compositions, known as electric matches, are ignited electrically and do not make use of heat from friction.

Etymology[link]

Historically, the term match referred to lengths of cord (later, cambric) impregnated with chemicals, and allowed to burn continuously.^[1] These were used to light fires and fire guns (see matchlock) and cannons (see linstock).^[2] Such matches were characterised by their burning speed i.e. quick match and slow match. Depending on its formulation, a slow match burns at a rate of around 30 cm (1 ft) per hour and a quick match at 4 to 60 centimetres (1.6 to 24 in) per minute. The modern equivalent of this sort of match is the simple fuse, still used in pyrotechnics to obtain a controlled time delay before ignition.^[3] The original meaning of the word still persists in some pyrotechnics terms, such as black match (a black powder-impregnated fuse) and Bengal match (a firework akin to sparklers producing a relatively long-burning, coloured flame). But, when friction matches became commonplace, they became the main object meant by the term.

The word "match" derives from Old French "mèche" referring to the wick of a candle.^[4]

Early matches[link]

A predecessor of the modern match, small sticks of pinewood impregnated with sulfur were used in China in AD 577. Besieged by military forces of Northern Zhou and Chen, Northern Qi court ladies were out of tinder and needed a way to start fires for cooking and heating.^[5] During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (AD 907–960), a book called the Records of the Unworldly and the Strange written by Chinese author Tao Gu in about 950 stated:

If there occurs an emergency at night it may take some time to make a light to light a lamp. But an ingenious man devised the system of impregnating little sticks of pinewood with sulfur and storing them ready for use. At the slightest touch of fire they burst into flame. One gets a little flame like an ear of corn. This marvellous thing was formerly called a "light-bringing slave", but afterwards when it became an article of commerce its name was changed to 'fire inch-stick'.^[5][6]。

Prior to the use of matches, fires were obtained using a burning glass (a lens) to focus the sun on tinder, a method that could only work on sunny days, or by igniting tinder with sparks produced by striking flint and steel. Early work had been done by alchemist Hennig Brandt, who discovered the inflammable nature of phosphorus in 1669.^[7] Others, including Robert Boyle and his assistant, Godfrey Haukweicz, continued these experiments in the 1680s with phosphorus and sulfur, but their efforts did not produce practical and inexpensive methods for generating fires.^[8] Matches of various kinds began to appear in Europe by about 1530.^[5] But the first modern, self-igniting match was invented in 1805 by Jean Chancel, assistant to Professor Louis Jacques Thénard of Paris. The head of the match consisted of a mixture of potassium chlorate, sulfur, sugar, and rubber. The match was ignited by dipping its tip in a small asbestos bottle filled with sulfuric acid.^[3] This kind of match was expensive and its usage was dangerous, so Chancel's matches did not become common. In London, matches meant for lighting cigars were introduced in 1849 by Heurtner who had a shop called the Lighthouse in the Strand. One version that he sold was called "Euperion" (sometimes "Empyrion") which was popular for kitchen use and nicknamed as "Hugh Perry" while another meant for outdoor use was called a "Vesuvian" (a similar version of which was patented by Samuel Jones in 1828 as a "Promethean").^[9] The Vesuvians or "flamers" were designed to work out of doors. The head was large and contained niter, charcoal and wood dust, and had a phosphorus tip. The handle was large and made of hardwood so as to burn vigorously and last for awhile. Some even had glass stems.^[10] Vesuvians and Prometheans had a bulb of sulfuric acid at the tip which had to be broken with pliers to start the reaction.^[11] Samuel Jones introduced fuzees for lighting cigars and pipes in 1832. A similar invention was patented in 1839 by John Stevens in America. In 1832, William Newton patented the "wax vesta", a wax stem that embedded cotton threads and had a tip of phosphorus. Variants known as "candle matches" were made by Savaresse and Merckel in 1836.^[10]

Friction matches[link]

In 1816, François Derosne produced a crude match tipped with phosphorus which he called a briquet phosphorique, which used a sulfur-tipped match to scrape inside a tube coated internally with phosphorus. It was good in theory but poor in practice.^[12]

Ignition of a match

The first "friction match" was invented in 1826 by English chemist John Walker, a chemist and druggist from Stockton-on-Tees. He experimented with "percussion powders" made up mainly of potassium chlorate. His early experiments led to a wood splint dipped in a paste of sulfur, gum, potassium chlorate, sugar and antimony trisulfide. The match was drawn between a fold of sandpaper to ignite it. Between 1827 and 1829, Walker made about 168 sales of his matches. It was however dangerous and flaming balls sometimes fell to the floor burning carpets and dresses, leading to their being banned in France and Germany.^[11] Walker either did not consider his invention important enough to patent or neglected it.^[7][13] In order for the splints to catch fire, they were often treated with sulfur and the odor was improved by the addition of camphor.^[7]

In 1829, Scots inventor Sir Isaac Holden invented an improved version of Walker's match and demonstrated it to his class at Castle Academy in Reading, Berkshire. Holden did not patent his invention and claimed that one of his pupils wrote to his father Samuel Jones, a chemist in London who commercialised his process.^[14] A version of Holden's match was patented by Samuel Jones, and these were sold as lucifer matches. These early matches had a number of problems- an initial violent reaction, an unsteady flame and unpleasant odor and fumes. Lucifers could ignite explosively, sometimes throwing sparks a considerable distance. Lucifers were manufactured in the United States by Ezekial Byam.^[7] The term "lucifer" persisted as slang in the 20th century (for example in the First World War song Pack Up Your Troubles) and in the Netherlands and Belgium today matches are still called lucifers.

Lucifers were however quickly replaced after the discovery in 1830 by Frenchman Charles Sauria who substituted the antimony sulfide with white phosphorus.^[15] These new phosphorus matches had to be kept in airtight metal boxes but became popular. In England, these phosphorus matches were called "Congreves" after Sir William Congreve (1772–1828) while they went by the name of "loco foco" in the United States. The earliest American patent for the phosphorus friction match was granted in 1836 to Alonzo Dwight Phillips of Springfield, Massachusetts. From 1830 to 1890 the composition of these matches remained largely unchanged although some improvements were made. In 1843 William Ashgard replaced the sulfur with beeswax, reducing the pungency of the fumes. This was replaced by paraffin in 1862 by Charles W. Smith, resulting in what were called "parlor matches". From 1870 the end of the splint was fireproofed by impregnation with fire-retardant chemicals such as alum, sodium silicate and other salts resulting in what were commonly called as a "drunkard's match" and prevented the accidental burning of the user's fingers. Other advances were made for the mass manufacture of matches. Early matches were made from blocks of woods with cuts separating the splints but leaving their bases attached. Later versions were made in the form of thin combs. The splints would be broken away from the comb when required.^[10] A noiseless match was invented in 1836 by the Hungarian János Irinyi, who was a student of chemistry.^[16] An unsuccessful experiment by his professor, Meissner, gave Irinyi the idea to replace potassium chlorate with lead dioxide^[17] in the head of the phosphorus match.^[16] He liquefied phosphorus in warm water and shook it in a glass vial, until it became granulated. He mixed the phosphorus with lead and gum arabic, poured the paste-like mass into a jar, and dipped the pine sticks into the mixture and let them dry. When he tried them that evening, all of them lit evenly. Irinyi thus invented the noiseless match. He sold the invention to István Rómer, a match manufacturer. Rómer, a Hungarian pharmacist living in Vienna, bought the invention and production rights from Irinyi for 60 forints. Rómer became rich and Irinyi went on to publish articles and a textbook on chemistry, and founded several match factories.^[16]

The replacement of white phosphorus[link]

Unfortunately, those involved in the manufacture of the new phosphorus matches were afflicted with phossy jaw and other bone disorders,^[18] and there was enough white phosphorus in one pack to kill a person. Deaths and suicides from eating the heads of matches became frequent. The earliest report of phosphorus necrosis was made in 1845 by Lorinser in Vienna, and a New York surgeon published a pamphlet with notes on nine cases.^[19][20] Attempts were made to reduce the ill-effects on workers through the introduction of inspections and regulations. Anton Schrötter von Kristelli discovered in 1850 that heating white phosphorus at 250°C in an inert atmosphere produced a red allotropic form, which did not fume in contact with air. It was suggested that this would make a suitable substitute in match manufacture although it was slightly more expensive.^[21] Two French chemists, Henri Savene and Emile David Cahen, developed a safe match using phosphorus sesquisulfide that was patented in 1898. They proved that the substance was not poisonous, that it could be used in a "strike-anywhere" match, and that the match heads were not explosive.^[22] They patented a safety match composition in 1898 based on phosphorus sesquisulfide and potassium chlorate.^[22] Albright and Wilson developed a safe means of making commercial quantities of phosphorus sesquisulfide in the United Kingdom in 1899 and started selling it to match manufacturers.^[23][24] White phosphorus however continued to be used, and its serious effects led many countries to ban its use. Finland prohibited the use of white phosphorus in 1872 followed by Denmark in 1874, France in 1897, Switzerland in 1898 and Holland in 1901.^[19] An agreement, the Berne Convention, was reached at Bern, Switzerland, in September 1906, which banned the use of white phosphorus in matches.^[25] This required each country to pass laws prohibiting the use of white phosphorus in matches. Great Britain passed a law in 1908 prohibiting its use in matches after 31 December 1910. The United States did not pass a law, but instead placed a "punitive tax" on white phosphorus-based matches, one so high as to render their manufacture financially impractical, in 1913. India and Japan banned them in 1919, and China banned them in 1925.

New York Times report dated 29 January 1911

In the United States, the Diamond Match Company obtained the patent for sesquisulfide manufacture in 1900 for a sum of $100,000.^[19] In 1901 Albright and Wilson started making phosphorus sesquisulfide at their Niagara Falls, New York plant for the US market, but American manufacturers continued to use white phosphorus matches.^[22] The Niagara Falls plant made them until 1910, when the United States Congress forbade the shipment of white phosphorus matches in interstate commerce.^[23] At the same time the largest producer of matches in the US granted free use, in the US, of its phosphorus sesquisulfide safety match patents.^[23] President William Howard Taft of the US then wrote publicly to the Diamond Match Company asking them to release the patent for the good of mankind, which they did in 1911.^[26] In 1913 Albright and Wilson also started making red phosphorus at Niagara Falls.^[23]

The strike-anywhere match[link]

Early friction matches made with white phosphorus as well as those made from phosphorus sesquisulfide could be struck on any suitable surface. They were particularly popular in the United States even when safety matches had become common in Europe.^[24] Strike-anywhere matches are banned on both passenger aircraft and cargo-only aircraft flight under 'dangerous goods' classification., "U.N. 1331, Matches, strike-anywhere;"^[27]

The safety match[link]

"Household" safety matches

The dangers of white phosphorus in the manufacture of matches led to the development of the "hygienic" or safety match. The major innovation in its development was the use of red phosphorus, not on the head of the match but instead on a specially designed striking surface. The idea was developed in 1844 by the Swede Gustaf Erik Pasch (1788–1862) and was improved by Johan Edvard Lundström (1815–1888). Pasch patented the use of red phosphorus in the striking surface. He found that this could ignite heads that did not need to contain white phosphorus. Johan Edvard and his younger brother Carl Frans Lundström (1823–1917) started a large-scale match industry in Jönköping around 1847, but the improved safety match was not introduced until around 1850–55. The Lundström brothers had obtained a sample of red phosphorus matches from Arthur Albright at The Great Exhibition, held at The Crystal Palace in 1851^[28] but had misplaced it, and therefore they did not try the matches until just before the Paris Exhibition of 1855 when they found that the matches were still usable.^[28] In 1858 their company produced around 12 million match boxes.^[24]

The safety of true "safety matches" is derived from the separation of the reactive ingredients between a match head on the end of a paraffin-impregnated splint and the special striking surface (in addition to the safety aspect of replacing the white phosphorus with red phosphorus). The idea for separating the chemicals had been introduced in 1859 in the form of two-headed matches known in France as Alumettes Androgynes. There was however a risk of the heads rubbing each other accidentally in their box. These were sticks with one end made of potassium chlorate and the other of red phosphorus. They had to be broken and the heads rubbed together.^[24] Such dangers were removed when the striking surface was moved to the outside of the box. The striking surface on modern matchboxes is typically composed of 25% powdered glass or other abrasive material, 50% red phosphorus, 5% neutralizer, 4% carbon black and 16% binder; and the match head is typically composed of 45–55% potassium chlorate, with a little sulfur and starch, a neutralizer (ZnO or CaCO₃), 20–40% of siliceous filler, diatomite and glue.^[29] Some heads contain antimony(III) sulfide to make them burn more vigorously. Safety matches ignite due to the extreme reactivity of phosphorus with the potassium chlorate in the match head. When the match is struck the phosphorus and chlorate mix in a small amount forming something similar to the explosive Armstrong's mixture which ignites due to the friction.

The Swedes long held a virtual worldwide monopoly on safety matches, with the industry mainly situated in Jönköping, in 1903 called Jönköpings & Vulcans Tändsticksfabriks AB.^[30] In France, they sold the rights to their safety match patent to Coigent Père & Fils of Lyon, but Coigent contested the payment in the French courts, on the basis that the invention was known in Vienna before the Lundström brothers patented it.^[30] The British match manufacturer Bryant and May visited Jönköping in 1858 to try to obtain a supply of safety matches, but it was unsuccessful. In 1862 it established its own factory and bought the rights for the British safety match patent from the Lundström brothers.^[30]

Safety matches are classified as dangerous goods, "U.N. 1944, Matches, safety". They are not universally forbidden on aircraft; however, they must be declared as dangerous goods and individual airlines and/or countries may impose tighter restrictions.^[27]

Special-purpose matches[link]

Storm matches, also known as lifeboat matches or flare matches, are often included in survival kits. They have a strikable tip similar to a normal match, but much of the stick is coated or impregnated with a combustible compound and waterproofed with wax, and will burn even in a strong wind. This match was used in the first mass-produced Molotov cocktails.

Matchbooks and matchboxes[link]

The development of a specialized "matchbook" with both matches and a striking surface occurred in the 1890s with the American Joshua Pusey, who sold his patent to the Diamond Match Company. The Diamond Match Company was later bought by Bryant and May.

The hobby of collecting match-related items, such as matchcovers and matchbox labels, is known as phillumeny.

See also[link]

A Brookesia micra chameleon—one of the smallest reptiles—on a match head. Matches are sometimes used for scale in photographs.

• Hendrick Lucifer
• Ivar Kreuger
• John Leonard Orr
• Lighter
• London matchgirls strike of 1888
• Permanent Match
• Phillumeny
• Swedish Match
• The Little Match Girl
• Vesta case

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

• Threlfall, Richard E., (1951). The Story of 100 Years of Phosphorus Making: 1851–1951. Oldbury: Albright & Wilson Ltd.

Further reading[link]

• Beaver, Patrick, (1985). The Match Makers: The Story of Bryant & May. London: Henry Melland Limited. ISBN 0-907929-11-7
• Emsley, John, (2000). The Shocking History of Phosphorus: A Biography of the Devil's Element. Basingstoke: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-333-76638-5
• Steele, H. Thomas (1987). Close Cover Before Striking: The Golden Age of Matchbook Art. Abeville Press

External links[link]

Look up match in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Match

• "History of Chemical Matches". Chemistry.about.com. http://chemistry.about.com/od/everydaychemistry/a/matches.htm. 
• "The History of Matches". Inventors.about.com. http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blmatch.htm. 
• "Making 125,000 Matches An Hour", August 1946, Popular Science article on the modern mass production of wooden stem matches
• "History of matchbooks". Matchcovers.com/first100.htm. http://www.matchcovers.com/first100.htm. 
• "The Rathkamp Matchcover Society". matchcover.org. http://www.matchcover.org. library.thinkquest.org/23062/match.htm
• "Lighting a Match", Royal Institution video on the ignition process

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Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle at the Docklands, 2005
Personal information
Full name	Christopher Henry Gayle
Born	(1979-09-21) 21 September 1979 (age 32) Kingston, Jamaica
Nickname	Gayleforce,GayleStorm
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Batting style	Left-handed
Bowling style	Right arm offbreak
Role	All-Rounder
International information
National side	West Indies
Test debut (cap 232)	16 March 2000 v Zimbabwe
Last Test	5 December 2010 v Sri Lanka
ODI debut (cap 97)	11 September 1999 v India
Last ODI	23 March 2011 v Pakistan
ODI shirt no.	45
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1998–2008, 2010 –	Jamaica (squad no. 333)
2005	Worcestershire
2008–2010	Kolkata Knight Riders
2009–2011	Western Warriors
2011–	Royal Challengers Bangalore
2011–	Sydney Thunder
2012–	Barisal Burners
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	91	228	166	294
Runs scored	6,373	8,087	12,294	10,526
Batting average	41.65	39.06	45.03	39.72
100s/50s	13/33	19/43	30/59	22/59
Top score	333	153*	333	153*
Balls bowled	6,857	6,936	12,247	9,074
Wickets	72	156	131	213
Bowling average	41.59	35.08	38.67	32.14
5 wickets in innings	2	1	2	1
10 wickets in match	0	n/a	0	n/a
Best bowling	5/34	5/46	5/34	5/46
Catches/stumpings	85/–	99/–	144/–	125/–
Source: Cricinfo, 27th May 2012

Christopher Henry "Chris" Gayle (born 21 September 1979) is a Jamaican cricketer who plays international cricket for the West Indies."Chris Gayle". http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/51880.html.  He captained the West Indies' Test side from 2007 to 2010. He plays domestic cricket for Jamaica, and has also represented Worcestershire, the Western Warriors and the Kolkata Knight Riders. He is currently signed with Royal Challenger Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Gayle represents the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League and the Barisal Burners in the Bangladesh Premier League. He is one of only four players who have scored two triple centuries at Test level: 317 against South Africa in 2005, and 333 against Sri Lanka in 2010.

Career[link]

Chris Gayle played for the West Indies at youth international level prior to making his first-class debut aged 19 for Jamaica. He played his first One Day International 11 months later, and his first Test match 6 months after that. Gayle, who normally opens the innings when he plays for the West Indies, is a destructive batsman who is most effective playing square of the wicket. In July 2001, Gayle (175), together with Daren Ganga (89) established the record for opening partnerships at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo when they put on 214 together against Zimbabwe.

However, generally speaking he had a slow start to his international career, but invigorated it in 2002, ending the year with three centuries against India in November and becoming the third West Indian to score 1,000 runs in a calendar year, along with Vivian Richards and Brian Lara. He is one of only six players in One Day International history to have three or more scores of 150. In 2005, Gayle was dropped for the first Test against South Africa along with six other players following a dispute over sponsorship issues (see below). He returned for the second test but had a poor series until the fourth Test, where he made a match-saving 317. It was the first ever triple century against South Africa and up until Mahela Jayawardene made 374, it was the highest individual Test score against them.

In August 2005, Gayle joined Worcestershire for the rest of the English season, playing eight matches. He made two half-centuries in three first class matches and two half-centuries in five one-day matches, and won one Man of the Match award in the one-day National League. However, Worcestershire were relegated after Gayle made 1 in the final match against Lancashire. Gayle was named Player of the 2006 Champions Trophy, where the West Indies nearly defended the title which they won in 2004, being defeated in the final by Australia. Gayle scored three centuries and totaled 474 runs, 150 more than any other batsman, and also took eight wickets in as many matches. Gayle, in keeping with the rest of the West Indies team, had a poor World Cup in 2007. He recorded a series of low scores; the one exception being a blistering 79 off 58 balls against England in the West Indies' final match.

On 17 December 2009 in the Australia v West Indies 3rd Test Chris Gayle scored the fifth fastest century in Test match history. He reached the century in just 70 balls. However he was shortly after dismissed for 102 runs. This feat included a flurry of runs thanks to some big hitting sixes. One of the sixes hit the Lillee Marsh stand's roof in a monstrous hit that was estimated by commentator, Ian Healy, to be approx 140 metres long. On 16 November 2010, he became the fourth cricketer to score two triple centuries in Test cricket after Donald Bradman, Brian Lara and Virender Sehwag.^[2]

Twenty20[link]

Gayle set the record for the highest innings in a Twenty20 International, scoring 117 against South Africa in the first match of the 2007 World Twenty20.^[3] The innings was the first century in international Twenty20 cricket and made him the first batsman to score a century in each of international cricket's three formats.^[4] The record stood unmatched until 19 February 2012, when South Africa's Richard Levi scored 117n.o. against New Zealand; Cricinfo recognised Levi as having broken the record outright, because a not out innings is ranked above a dismissal.^[5]

In the semi-final match of the 2009 World Twenty20 against Sri Lanka, he became the first international player to carry his bat through the entire innings in this format of the game as well. In April 2008, Gayle was auctioned by the franchise Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League, but missed the opening games due to a Sri Lanka tour to the Caribbean. When he finally joined the team, he missed out on the action due to a groin injury he picked up during that tour. Afterwards, he left to join the West Indies team for a home series against Australia, therefore not playing in the inaugural version of the IPL at all. On 1 July 2009, Gayle signed with the Western Australia Warriors for the Australian Domestic Twenty20 tournament known as the Big Bash for the 2009–10 season.

He played in the second IPL competition in early 2009, arriving for an away Test series against England very late, earning criticism about his commitment.^[6] His Test series went poorly, and the West Indies went on to lose both the Test and ODI series. Gayle, however, went to on score a match winning 88 in the first official match of the 2009 Twenty20, in a surprise victory over Australia.^[7]

In 2011, after being left out of the initial part of the West Indies T20 and one-day home series against Pakistan, Gayle opted to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League.^[8] In his first game against his previous team Kolkata Knight Riders, he scored 102 off 55 balls, hitting 10 fours and 7 sixes.^[9] On May 6, 2011, he scored another century, 107 off 49 balls against the Kings XI Punjab, which included 10 fours and 9 sixes.^[10] In the next match against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, he scored 37 runs in one over, which included 3 sixes, 3 fours and a no ball which was hit for a six.^[11][12] Although many people cite him as having hit the over for 37, one run was awarded as an extra due to the no ball. He can therefore be said to have hit 36 off an over which went for 37. Gayle won the Orange Cap Award for scoring the most runs in the tournament amassing 608 runs in 12 matches.^[13] He was instrumental in many victories for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and received five man of the match awards and also the player of the tournament award for his performances.^[14] In the 2011 Champions League Twenty20, Chris Gayle was the second highest run-scorer in the competition, behind David Warner, with 257 runs from 6 matches at an average of 42.83 and a top score of 92, and was one of the star players.^[15]

Following his prolific performances and the rubber-stamp being stamped that he is the ultimate pinch-hitter, Gayle was signed by Zimbabwean franchise Matabeleland Tuskers, for the 2011-12 Stanbic Bank 20 Series.^[16] As Gayle later recalled it was valuable practice ahead of the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, where he had signed for the Sydney Thunder.^[17][18] Gayle hoped his first appearance in the tournament was a success, and he gave the spectators something to cheer about. Gayle was the second West Indian to be signed in the event, after the legendary Brian Lara had signed for Southern Rocks the previous season.

Gayle had tremendous success in that tournament. He was the leading run-scorer in that series with 293 runs, a top score of 109, and an average over 50. He was also the best batsman of the tournament.^[19] Ironically, the only century Gayle scored in the event ended in defeat as Mid West Rhinos's Brendan Taylor's outstanding 75* outlasted his team.^[20] The Tuskers could not win the tournament as the were overpowered by Mashonaland Eagles's Ryan ten Doeschate's brilliant 121* off 58 and despite Gayle scoring a blistering half-century, it was not to see his home through.^[21]

Gayle plays for Barisal Burners at the Bangladesh Premier League, and has scored two dominating centuries at more than double per ball.^[22]

In the 2012 IPL season, Gayle hit the most sixes (59)^[23] and was nominated for the orange cap for making 733 in 15 matches. ^[24].

List of Twenty20 centuries[link]

Chris Gayle holds the record for most centuries in Twenty20 cricket (8). Here is the list of all his Twenty20 hundreds

Controversies[link]

Despite being regarded as a calm, cool cricketer,^[26] In 2005 Gayle was involved in the dispute between the West Indies Cricket Board and a number of players over sponsorship issues. These players had personal sponsorship deals with Cable and Wireless, who used to sponsor West Indian cricket. However, since the West Indies had recently become sponsored by Cable and Wireless' rivals Digicel the West Indies Cricket Board demanded the players dropped their Cable and Wireless deals. When the players refused to back down, the West Indies Cricket Board dropped them for the first Test against South Africa.^[27] Gayle later cut his deal with Cable and Wireless and rejoined the side for the second Test. He was charged with conduct contrary to the spirit of cricket during a Test against New Zealand in March 2006, but was subsequently found not guilty.^[28] Later that year, during October's Champions Trophy tournament in India, he was fined 30 percent of his match fee after repeated verbal exchanges with the Australian batsman Michael Clarke.^[29] He also publicly criticised the West Indies Cricket Board during the 2007 tour of England which led to an official reprimand and warning.^[30]

Gayle also received criticism in early 2009 during West Indies' tour of England, where he commented that he did not want to captain the West Indies anymore given the pressures involved, and that he "wouldn't be so sad" if Test cricket was superseded by Twenty20 cricket in the future.^[6] From the West Indies, both Viv Richards and Gary Sobers criticised Gayle's comments, as did opposite number Andrew Strauss.^[31] Gayle later commented that his statement had been quoted out of context, according to Julian Hunte, President of the West Indies Cricket Board.^[32] In an interview with Michael Atherton at the conclusion of a West Indies defeat in their tour of England, Gayle stated that he was not going to resign the captaincy.^[33]

In April 2011 Gayle criticised the West Indies Cricket Board and coach Ottis Gibson and has not played for the team since. On April 6, 2012, Gayle and the WICB reached an understanding that paves the way for the former West Indies captain to return to the national team. He hasn't played cricket for the West Indies since March 23 in the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan.^[34]

Player statistics[link]

An innings-by-innings breakdown of Gayle's Test match batting career, showing runs scored (red bars) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).

Test centuries[link]

The following table illustrates a summary of the Test centuries scored by Chris Gayle.

• In the column Runs, * indicates being not out.
• The column title Match refers to the Match Number of his career.

Test Centuries of Chris Gayle[35]
#	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year	Result
1	175	10	Zimbabwe	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe	Queens Sports Club	2001	Won
2	204	23	New Zealand	St. George's, Grenada	National Cricket Stadium	2002	Drawn
3	116	36	South Africa	Cape Town, South Africa	Newlands	2004	Drawn
4	107	37	South Africa	Centurion, South Africa	SuperSport Park	2004	Lost
5	141	42	Bangladesh	Gros Islet, St Lucia	Beausejour Cricket Ground	2004	Drawn
6	105	47	England	London, England	The Oval	2004	Lost
7	317	50	South Africa	St. John's, Antigua	Antigua Recreation Ground	2005	Drawn
8	197	75	New Zealand	Napier, New Zealand	McLean Park	2008	Drawn
9	104	76	England	Kingston, Jamaica	Sabina Park	2009	Won
10	104	80	England	Port of Spain, Trinidad	Queen's Park Oval	2009	Drawn
11	165*	84	Australia	Adelaide, Australia	Adelaide Oval	2009	Drawn
12	102	85	Australia	Perth, Australia	WACA Ground	2009	Lost
13	333	89	Sri Lanka	Galle, Sri Lanka	Galle International Stadium	2010	Drawn

One Day International Centuries[link]

One Day International Centuries of Chris Gayle[36]
#	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year	Result
1	152		Kenya	Nairobi, Kenya	Simba Union Ground	2001	Won
2	103	54	India	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2002	Won
3	100*	99	India	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2002	Won
4	101	01	India	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2002	Lost
5	119	68	Kenya	Kimberley, South Africa	De Beers Diamond Oval	2003	Won
6	153*	79	Zimbabwe	Bulawayo, Zimbabwe	Queens Sports Club	2003	Won
7	112*	83	Zimbabwe	Harare, Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	2003	Won
8	152*	88	South Africa	Johannesburg, South Africa	The Wanderers Stadium	2004	Lost
9	132*	100	England	London, England	Lord's	2004	Won
10	132	116	South Africa	Bridgetown, Barbados	Kensington Oval	2005	Lost
11	124	124	Pakistan	Gros Islet, St Lucia	Beausejour Cricket Ground	2005	Lost
12	123	134	South Africa	Bridgetown, Barbados	Kensington Oval	2007	Lost
13	104*	145	Pakistan	Harare, Zimbabwe	Harare Sports Club	2009	Won
14	101	149	England	Ahmedabad, India	Sardar Patel Stadium	2006	Lost
15	133*	150	South Africa	Jaipur, India	Sawai Mansingh Stadium	2006	Won
16	110*	186	Canada	King City, Canada	Maple Leaf Cricket Club	2008	Won
17	113	187	Pakistan	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2008	Lost
18	122	189	Pakistan	Abu Dhabi, UAE	Sheikh Zayed Stadium	2008	Lost
19	10	190	New Zealand	Napier, New Zealand	McLean Park	2008	Lost

Twenty20 International Centuries[link]

Twenty20 International Centuries of Chris Gayle[37]
#	Runs	Match	Against	City/Country	Venue	Year	Result
1	107		South Africa	Johannesburg, South africa	The wanderers Stadium	2007	lost

Notes[link]

References[link]

• 75 Years of West Indies Cricket 1928–2000 by Ray Goble and Keith AP Sandiford ISBN 1-870518-78-0

External links[link]

• Player profile: Chris Gayle from CricketArchive
• Player profile: Chris Gayle from ESPNcricinfo