Yohan Blake loves cricket, claims he can knock over Tendulkar with pace

Much has been made of Usain Bolt's love of football and his desire to play for Manchester United but have you heard about Yohan Blake's love of cricket and his bid to play in the IPL?

Easily an hour after completing his 200m silver medal run at the London Olympic stadium Blake meandered off the track and clearly sick of dissecting a 20 second race with a host of international journalists, made a beeline for the Indian contingent who hit him with a barrage of cricket related banter.

Blake was only too happy to answer.

"I want to show you that I am better at cricket than running," said Blake. "I am a really talented batsman."

"I am a T20 batsman. You guys need to see me in action. I am a bowling machine that can bat all day. I have played some cricket... that's my love, that's my passion, every day I watch cricket."

Blake made it clear to an enthralled audience he preferred cricket to the track.

"When I was in growing up I watched cricket with my father. I have grown up to love the sport even more than track and field.

"Even in training I am playing some cricket strokes."

That's nothing to be ashamed of Yohan, who doesn't enjoy a shadow stroke?

The only hint of discontent from the Indian media was when Blake put the boot in to India's much maligned fast bowling stocks.

"Of course, I am faster than the Indian bowlers. They are not that quick."

"They are bowling like 87-88 (mph), I am bowling 90-91 so... I am strong I know, I am very fast."

Blake deflected a few more questions about the track before returning to the subject of cricket - the weakness of any true cricket tragic.

"Once I get the chance to play I can even get out Sachin, you know, and Virender Sehwag. So, I know what I can do"

"I am bowling fast, my speed is fast. You see when I run up like 93 (mph), I can bowl really fast. I'll send you guys some videos, you see for yourself."

He may have been bested on the track but he was sure he could outdo training partner Usain Bolt on the cricket field.

"Even though he is starting to get more bounce than me sometimes, I am really quick. I bowl fast... sometimes I even swing the ball."

The only cricket inquiry that had Blake troubled was the unanswerable question - who is better - Brian Lara or Sachin Tendulkar?

"You are putting me in a spot, man"

And as he left he had a final word and a phone number for a reporter from the Hindustan Times.

"Call me anytime for cricket, my phone works around the world."