WATERCOOLER: Gayle’s behaviour is just not cricket

THERE is a time and a place for flirting and on Monday night Chris Gayle chose the wrong time.

THERE is a time and a place for flirting and on Monday night Chris Gayle chose the wrong time.

For those who missed the Big Bash match, Chris Gayle tried to flirt with Mel McLaughlin after getting out for 41 from just 15 deliveries in the Melbourne Renegades' five-wicket win over Hobart.

Attempting to win over the Network 10 commentator, Gayle said "I wanted to come and have an interview with you as well, that's the reason why I'm here."

He added he was hoping to have a drink with her later and told her "don't blush baby" after she was taken aback with his comments.
 

What do you think about this? Was Chris Gayle out of line?

Should female sports reporters have to hear these sort of comments while doing their jobs?

Join our daily watercooler by leaving a comment below.
 

Since the comments plenty of people have come out and supported both Gayle and McLaughlin.

Even readers on Facebook have had their say with most coming out in support of Gayle and saying it was harmless fun.

Unfortunately for the Big Bash and the broadcaster, this isn't being viewed that way.

Cricket Australia handed Gayle a $10,000 fine late yesterday, with the network also standing up for their employee.

Since the incident McLaughlin has gone into hiding with no posts on social media despite using Twitter every day since the tournament began last month.
 

WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ON FACEBOOK

Beth Johannessen
 Its been hyped up way too much! Yes he was arrogant, but it wasnt any different from the usual flirty banter that is tolerated in the sports industry with reporters, if the sexes were reversed everyone would have thought it was amusing! Over kill on the outrage....we have much more pressing news headlines to worry about these days...

Steve Roberts
Awwww come on enough, he got fined an has been humiliated since doing a stupid thing, i'm sure the reporter has moved on

Taran Saunders
this is gone to far, the PC ness of today has gone to far, now people can't even do what is essentially a nice thing, without being called sexist. Most men and women would love it if they were hit on by a sporting star.

Jackie Green 
I think it is done. It wasn't meant to be offensive. If it was a female sportsperson to a male reporter it would be laughed about. Let it go

Chris Nixon
Oh for godsakes - people are just not light hearted any more. What a morose and serious bunch everyone is turning out to be. All I can say is 'lighten up'. He did nothing wrong..........
  Matt Danks 
Chris Gayle come across as a bimbo. Dumb and inappropriate.
Carli Cosgrove
She was definitely uncomfortable during the interview. She herself has said she accepts his apology and just wants to move on. I think people need to remember that we all have different levels of what we find acceptable. Just because it wouldn't offend you doesn't mean somebody else cannot be offended.
 

While I don't condemn flirting, and trying to chat up the opposite sex in the right way, I do have a problem with it when someone is trying to do their job.

She was harassed by the West Indian opener and clearly showed she didn't approve of it with her body language when he started commenting.

Gayle then continued to flirt in the same way until McLaughlin concluded the interview.
 

For people who think it was harmless fun, consider this, McLaughlin was made uncomfortable and it put her in a position she didn't want to be in.

Channel 10 reporter Mel McLaughlin

In any workplace environment you don't expect to be put in those positions and McLaughlin didn't deserve what she copped on Monday night.

Being a female sports journalist in the industry is tough. I know that because I went to university and worked closely with a few.

Most are knowledgeable in sports and understand the field just as well as their male colleagues.

Unfortunately though they are subjected to all kinds of gender comments purely for the fact they are females trying to make waves in an industry that for the most part is male dominated.

Scenarios like Monday night are not going to help and that is sad.

All journalists should be able to do their job, and all should have an equal opportunity to perform well, without being subjected to flirting and comments about their gender.

This whole situation is also sad because it deters from what has been a wonderful Big Bash tournament.

It also takes away the gloss of what Chris Gayle does on the cricket field.

As he showed on Monday night he is a player who can bring fans to the game.

Unfortunately he ruined the spectacle with his immature comments.

While his apology and fine was great yesterday, more needs to be done to prevent it from happening again.

All journalists should feel comfortable in their job and on Monday night that was broken.

If you want to flirt, and make immature comments, find a better place to do it or don't say it at all. A sporting field isn't a place for either of those things.