'Cricket-mad' Bolt keen to play in Australia's Big Bash League

Sydney, June 8(ANI): Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is very keen to play in Australia's Twenty20 tournament Big Bash League, according to Melbourne Stars president Eddie McGuire, who is close to recruiting Bolt in his team. Bolt was interested in the idea of opening the bowling for the Stars, and also has experience of playing with international cricketers. In a charity match in 2009, the could-have-been fast bowler Bolt clean-bowled West Indies superstar Chris Gayle. "He's absolutely genuine. Whether or not we could pull it off, time will tell. But he's very, very keen. If at the end of (August) he's got six Olympic gold medals he's probably looking for other things to do," The Fox Sports quoted McGuire, as saying. McGuire admitted Cricket Australia would need to approve Bolt's appearance. Bolt, who is the raging favourite to win the 100-meter sprint in London, was forced to choose between cricket and athletics as a teenager. "When I got to high school, because I was so good at cricket, I really wanted to play cricket because that was my first love. My dad said 'no, you can't do two sports," Bolt said. Bolt added: "I wanted to do cricket and he said: 'No, do track and field. At the end of the day, cricket is a team sport with politics and everything and in track and field. If you are fast you are fast." (ANI)