LONDON • Chris Gayle, the West Indies cricket batsman, could face fresh allegations of sexism following lewd remarks made to a female journalist in an interview published by The Times yesterday.

He was widely condemned at the start of the year for asking reporter Mel McLaughlin out on a date on live television when playing in Australia's Big Bash League, saying: "Your eyes are beautiful, hopefully we can win this game and then we can have a drink after as well. Don't blush, baby."

He was subsequently fined A$10,000 (S$9,971) by his team the Melbourne Renegades.

This time, speaking to Charlotte Edwardes, in an article published by The Times magazine, Gayle claims to have "a very, very big bat, the biggest in the wooooorld," before adding: "You think you could lift it? You'd need two hands."

According to the piece, Gayle goes on to ask Edwardes how many black men she has "had" before inquiring as to whether she has ever had a "t'eesome".

He then asks her if she dyes her hair while flicking his eyes downwards, according to her account of the exchange.

Later on in the interview, he says: "Women should have equality and they do have equality. They have more than equality. Women can do what they want."

With Gayle warming to his equality theme, Edwardes asks about sharing domestic duties such as cooking and looking after a baby and he adds: "No, that OK. (With a baby) then she doesn't have to (cook). We can stop and buy a meal. If she's working, then the couple share. First person home, cooks."

But, he adds, "women should please their man. When he comes home, food is on the table. Serious. You ask your husband what he likes and then you make it".

On homophobia, however, Gayle said: "The culture I grew up in, gays were negative. (But) people can do whatever they want.

"You can't tell someone how to live their life. It's a free world."

THE GUARDIAN