Chris Gayle is likely to be reprimanded after he used a post-match interview to ask out a TV news reporter live on air.
Gayle, 36, had just been dismissed having scored 41 off 15 balls in the Melbourne Renegades’ victory over the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League when he was approached for comments by the Network Ten journalist Mel McLaughlin.
She began by asking him about his innings but he quickly steered the conversation away from cricket, saying: “I just wanted to have an interview with you as well, that’s why I batted so well.”
He then added: “Your eyes are beautiful, hopefully we can win this game and then we can have a drink after as well. Don’t blush, baby.”
McLaughlin attempted to laugh off the invitation by saying: “I’m not blushing.”
Gayle’s attitude attracted a welter of criticism on Twitter, though Network Ten did not help the situation when it described the West Indian batsman’s approach as “smooth” in a tweet that was then deleted.
Goes to work & gets harassed. Then her employer tweets it like it's a great joke. WTF @tensporttv ??? pic.twitter.com/WEALx1y1Bq
— Luke Hilakari (@lhilakari) January 4, 2016
On Tuesday morning Channel 10 boss David Barham told Melbourne’s 3AW radio station Gayle’s comments had left McLaughlin angry and upset .
“She was a bit angry … angry and upset I suppose,” Barham said. “She was asking him legitimate questions about cricket and he ended up talking about her eyes.”
Anthony Everard, the head of the Big Bash League, tweeted to say: “I heard Chris’s comments and they’re disrespectful and simply inappropriate. We’ll certainly be talking to him and the Renegades about it. This league is all about it’s appeal to kids, families and females. There’s just no place in the BBL – or for that matter cricket anywhere – for that sort of behaviour.”
The Renegades chief executive, Stuart Coventry, said. “We’ll certainly be talking to him in association with Cricket Australia about it. There’s just no place for that sort of behaviour.”
Andrew Flintoff, a Ten commentator, was also unimpressed, tweeting: “Well played @Mel_Mclaughlin !! Big fan of @henrygayle but made himself look a bit of a chop there @tensporttv #bbl05.”
Australian sports journalists posted mostly scathing reactions to Gayle’s comments, including Fox Sports broadcaster Neroli Meadows, a former colleague of McLaughlin.
Not clever. Not funny. Not original. How about just let a fine broadcaster do her job.
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) January 4, 2016
Carly Adno, a sports journalist with Sydney’s Daily Telegraph, and the veteran ABC broadcaster Debbie Spillane were similarly unimpressed.
Ugh. Not one bit amusing Chris Gayle. Well handled @Mel_Mclaughlin. #BBL05
— Carly Adno (@CarlyW226) January 4, 2016
Not smooth or clever from @henrygayle. Just going for cheap laughs. @Mel_Mclaughlin wasn't playing. Her professionalism re-inforced.
— DebbieSpillane (@DebSpillane) January 4, 2016
But Gayle found at least one defender in the TV presenter Piers Morgan.
I'm absolutely outraged that everyone's so absolutely outraged by @henrygayle being a bit cheeky to a female TV reporter. #BBL05
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 4, 2016
