Chris Gayle has taken aim in his autobiography at Chris Rogers, Ian Chappell and Andrew Flintoff, and opened up about his controversial sideline interview last summer with Mel McLaughlin.
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In Six Machine, the West Indian master blaster has fired back at those who criticised him over how he handled his interview with Channel Ten's McLaughlin during last year's Twenty20 Big Bash League.
Gayle was fined $10,000 by his club, the Melbourne Renegades, and appears unwanted by any BBL franchise for the coming season.
The hard-hitting opener had said he was only joking when he told McLaughlin on national television that "the reason why I'm here, just to see your eyes for the first time. It's nice so ... hopefully we can win this game and have a drink after. Don't blush baby".
In his book, Gayle says: "Now T20 is different. It's not Test cricket. It's chilled and fun and let's do things different. So when Mel asks me that question I stay in the T20 mind, and answer informal and fun. I meant it as a joke. I meant it as a little fun. I didn't mean to be disrespectful and I didn't mean it to be taken serious."
In an extract published in the The Times of London, Gayle hit out at former Australian opener Rogers, one of many former cricketers who had criticised Gayle. The pair had been teammates with BBL franchise Sydney Thunder.
"Chris Rogers, how can you claim that when it was you and me at the bar most nights? I'm not a snitch, but I've heard from your own mouth what you've done. Next time you want to open your mouth, maybe chew on a carrot instead," Gayle said.
Gayle and Rogers, who is also penning his own autobiography, will be teammates with English county side Somerset this northern season.
Rogers had said: "I was very wary of the role he was setting for the younger guys, and I spoke to them quite a bit about it [and said]: 'Do you think this is good behaviour, would you do this kind of thing?' This is a pattern of behaviour. If you know the guy, you see it over and over."
Gayle also took a swipe at former Australian captain Ian Chappell, who had wanted a worldwide ban imposed on the left-hander.
"Ian Chappell, calling for me to be banned worldwide. Ian Chappell, a man who was once convicted of unlawful assault in the West Indies for punching a cricket official. Ian Chappell, how can you ban the Universe Boss? You'd have to ban cricket itself," Gayle said.
Gayle has launched legal action against Fairfax Media over allegations he exposed himself indecently during the 2015 World Cup.
Flintoff, a Channel Ten commentator during the BBL, was reminded by Gayle of his own actions.
"This coming from a man who admitted he took Viagra during a Test match. Freddie Flintstone, a young boy like you taking Viagra? Don't lecture me. The only chop Freddie knows is when he used to bowl short to me and I would chop him past backward point for four," Gayle said.
Flintoff, the former great English all-rounder, had said he was once run out while batting because he had taken Viagra the night before.
