Despite being regarded as a calm cool individual, Chris Gayle has the ability to cause a devastating effect in any format of the game.

But in this era of limited-overs cricket, Gayle is the West Indian batsman who has flourished like no other.

His hard-hitting prowess has served him well since coming to the fore at the age of 19, and his lack of respect for opposition bowlers has been the talking point of what has turned out to be a dazzling career.

The 6ft 4in tall left-handed batsman is known for his characteristic hitting and timing to switch gears in the blink of an eye to demolish even the most formidable of opponents at any given time.

Gayle has been considered one of the greatest big-hitting legends in limited-overs cricket and has set numerous world records in all formats of the game. He is also the only player to score a Test triple century, a One Day International double century, and a Twenty20 International century.

Dubbed the ‘Gayle Force’, ‘Gayle Storm’ and ‘Master Storm’, the Jamaican holds numerous records that reflect his batting style, including record Twenty20 strike-rates and high scores.

The 36-year-old, with scores of 317 against South Africa and 333 against Sri Lanka, became one of only four players who have scored triple centuries in Test cricket, joining Australian Donald Bradman, fellow West Indian Brian Lara, and Virender Sehwag of India.

While playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, he scored a 30-ball century in a knock of 175 not out that became the highest individual Twenty20 score, eclipsing the previous mark set by Brendon McCallum of Kolkata Knight Rider.

However, his biggest achievement to date came in February of this year, when he became the first batsman in World Cup history to score a double century during the 2015 ICC World Cup against Zimbabwe. The opening batsman finished with 215 runs off 212 balls in a glorious innings, which included 10 boundaries and 16 sixes.

It was the highest recorded score in a World Cup until it was broken a few days later by New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, ironically against the West Indies team.

In the match against Zimbabwe, Gayle’s second-wicket partnership with compatriot Marlon Samuels was the most productive in Cricket World Cup history, amassing 372 runs before Gayle was caught off the final ball of the innings.

Coincidentally, Gayle was almost adjudged out on the very first ball he faced, but a leg-before-wicket appeal by Zimbabwe bowler Tinashe Panyangara was turned down by the umpire.

The destructive force of Gayle has earned a place among the marvellous five nominees for the RJR Sports People’s Choice Performance Award which recognises the sporting performance of the year.

The performance, which secured a 73-run win for the West Indies, will be up against last year’s winner Alia Atkinson, whose 50-metre breaststroke silver medal swim at the FINA World Championships has made the highlights; along with the sensational run by Danielle Williams, who upset the odds to become Jamaica’s youngest sprint hurdles gold medallist; Simon Dawkins’ last-gasp goal which resuscitated the Reggae Boyz’s dream of a spot in the World Cup; and the Women’s 4x400m relay team’s historic run to win the gold medal at the World Championships.

The winner is to be decided by members of the public and will be named at the gala awards scheduled for Friday, January 15 at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.