Vieri, whose brother Max played six games with the Socceroos, says plans are in place to join Italy's national cricket team soon.<\/p>\n
MORE CRICKET NEWS:<\/strong> New NSW skipper Pat Cummins 'not too sure' if he actually wants to captain Australia<\/a><\/p>\n "Two months ago before the second coronavirus wave, I spoke to someone from the cricket association. I'm going to start playing in March, April," Vieri told Stats Perform News.<\/p>\n "It's a small thing in Italy. In Milan there is a cricket team. I spoke with the Italian cricket captain. They said, 'Listen, when you want to play with us, just come'.<\/p>\n "I said, 'Listen, one thing is playing with a tennis ball when you're 14, one thing is playing with professionals. I want to come three or four days, train with you guys and see how it is'."<\/p>\n It'd be audacious for arguably anyone in the world to compare their game to that of Gayle, let alone someone who's never played professional cricket, but that is exactly what Vieri did.<\/p>\n Gayle is arguably the greatest T20 cricketer of all time, having blasted a record 13584 runs and 1101 sixes.<\/p>\n But Vieri clearly thinks he's a second 'Universe Boss'.<\/p>\n "I think [I play like] Chris Gayle from West Indies," Vieri said.<\/p>\n "I'm a left-hander. When I used to play – I'm not a Test match guy – I wanted to smash the ball outside the stadium. I think I would've been good.<\/p>\n "I watch all the West Indies' games – Viv Richards, Clive Lloyd, Joel Garner, all those guys. I would watch Australia, but in those days the Windies were too strong for everyone."<\/p>\n Italy might even have its own Mr Cricket.<\/p>\n "I'm on YouTube a lot watching cricket," Vieri said.<\/p>\n "My wife always says, 'What are you watching? What is this?' Three hours a day watching games from 1984 and 1986, and she is going, 'What is wrong with you? Why aren't you normal?'<\/p>\n "I say to her, 'Listen, I grew up there, these are the days I was there following cricket'.<\/p>\n "She takes the piss out of me.<\/p>\n "Pakistan had Imran Khan. I know the players. England had Ian Botham. It was fun.<\/p>\n "I think I would've been the best batsman in the world if I played cricket. I was an all-rounder. I was really good."<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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