Penguin to publish cricketer Chris Gayle's 'outrageous' memoir

Penguin Random House is publishing the memoir of "the most in-demand cricketer of the modern era" - West Indies cricket "legend" Chris Gayle.

Six Machine, written with chief BBC sports writer Tom Fordyce, will be released around the world on 2nd June 2016.

Gayle, born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, is the only man to have hit a six off the first ball of a Test match. He was also the first to smash an international T20 century, the first to hit a World Cup 200 and claims the fastest century ever. He has hit twice as many T20 sixes as any other man and is also one of only four players in history to score two triple centuries at Test level. Off the pitch, he has a social media following of millions across Instagram and Twitter accounts, and is known for his globe-trotting, party lifestyle.

The book however is pitched as "not just of sporting genius" but of "battling prejudice" and "of coming from nothing to everything and yet not losing yourself along the way".

Viking acquired world rights from David Luxton at DLA. 

Joel Rickett, publisher of Viking at Penguin Random House, said: “Chris Gayle is one of the standout characters in an increasingly bland sporting world. Like the man himself, Six Machine is outrageous and utterly original. The only comparison I can make is to I Am Zlatan by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Penguin), and I think we’ve got a similar sensation on our hands.”

Gayle said: “I’m really excited about releasing my first book. I hope it can reach far and wide, through cricket and beyond, for there are stories to tell and secrets I’ve waited a long time to share. Being me is fun. I don’t believe in boring. And Six Machine is me, in every way.”

Six Machine: I Don’t Like Cricket... I Love It will be published in hardback, international trade paperback and e-book on 2nd June 2016.