Chat-bout.net - Cricket will have to wait

Cricket will have to wait – Blake

Despite being one of the best sprinters in history, Yohan Blake has made no secret of his desire to test his mettle on the cricket pitch, but with the World Champs just under a year away, the 22-year-old has shelved his ambitions; for now.

Yohan Blake

Blake, who will be defending his 100m crown in Moscow next summer, is widely known to be an avid fan of the sport. Several decent showings in local cricket competitions were expected to be a precursor to his appearance at the massive Big Bash Twenty20 league in Australia in a few weeks. However, it seems Blake and his coach, Glen Mills, have struck a deal of sorts.

"Coach (Glen) Mills had a talk with me and he told me that I have the (100m World) title to defend, so I should focus on that and then the other year (2014) is going to be an off year, so I can play my cricket and also run, so I am just going to wait until next year to look at the cricket," Blake said.

Blake, the aspiring cricketer, is currently the joint-second fastest man in history, in both the 100m (9.69) and the 200m (19.26), and is also the Olympic silver medallist in both events.

Sprinting class aside, Blake was and is clearly very serious about his cricketing plans. His agent Cubie Seegobin made a passionate appeal for the public to support his pursuit because of what it meant to him personally, while his kit sponsors Adidas had already shipped cricket gears to his St Andrew home, shortly after the Olympic Games.

The Big Bash and the Indian Premier League, another popular Twenty20 competition will have to wait. Blake has other things to think about, like his 100m World Championships title.

"We spoke to the guys in Australia and India for the IPL and they understand and have been saying that they are looking forward to next year, so after the World Championships I will be there," he added.

"So yes, I am putting off the cricket for now. I'm not really disappointed because I have to defend my (100m World Championships) title and I think it’s going to be an interesting one because Usain Bolt is confident and is pushing me," he noted.

Jamaica star

Bookmark us!