Where there’s Hope there’s life: West Indies’ big hitters bring World Cup fireworks
The last team to qualify for this year’s World Cup but with a collection of big ODI batting beasts in their ranks, West Indies’ only constant is their inconsistency. But they are never, ever dull.
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West Indies booked their place at this year’s World Cup by the skin of their teeth in qualifying, a five run win in a rain affected clash with Scotland getting them over the line.
Despite that, they travel to England with renewed optimism, fuelled in no small part by a merited 2-2 draw in a recent home ODI series against tournament favourites England. And with the projection of a happier, more unified camp — and with a few estranged players back in the fold — they go in to this competition as many people’s dark horses.
Confidence should be tempered, however, by form since the last World Cup, during which time they have not won a single bilateral series, losing 10 and drawing two.
They do, however, know how to win global tournaments, in T20 cricket at least, their 2016 success proving that the Caribbean still produces players of explosive talent.
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Much of the positivity out of the camp emanates from the astute, mature leadership of Jason Holder. The 27-year-old holds the office for all three formats and as well as leading by example with both bat and ball, has come through a baptism of fire in a region of tense internal politics to earn the respect of all.
Their danger with the bat was fully on show in posting 421 in a 91-run victory over New Zealand in their most recent World Cup warm-up game.
Shai Hope continued his exciting run of form with an 86-ball 101 with nine fours and four sixes, while Andre Russell lived up to his big-hitting reputation with a breezy 25-ball 54 as they sent a warning to Pakistan ahead of their World Cup opener on May 31.
“We’re building towards something special in the World Cup so to get this momentum going into the first game against Pakistan is key,” Windies captain Jason Holder said.
“It’s really good to see the batsmen make full use of the surface.”
Small grounds and boisterous backing from the West Indian diaspora in the UK go in their favour. Few have them down as winning outright; as few would discount them putting on a show, either.
STRENGTHS
When they are in the mood, this West Indies side contains some of the world’s most destructive batsmen. Chris Gayle — the self-styled “Universe Boss” — grabs plenty of headlines but Russell, fresh from tearing up the IPL where he struck 52 sixes, 18 more than any other player, is as much of a threat to errant bowlers, while Evin Lewis and Shai Hope, likewise enjoy going big at every opportunity. Shimron Hetmyer is another callow but destructive talent who could make a name for himself this winter.
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They won’t flinch if asked to chase a score of 400 plus, scoreboard pressure more like scoreboard inspiration.
WEAKNESSES
It is in the bowling department where the West Indians perhaps come up a little short. They will post some big scores but may have trouble defending them, especially on small grounds. There is no mystery spinner of note in their line up, a stark deficiency when you consider the strength across the board in that department. In the absence of Sunil Narine, Ashley Nurse will be the front line spinner. His record of one wicket for 189 runs against England earlier in the year tells its own tale.
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And while it threatens a walk in to cliché, the very nature of this side’s talent is its capriciousness. They will be worth watching always, but can bowl hot and cold like few other units, inconsistency the only real constant.
KEY PLAYERS
Chris Gayle
Rightly considered one of the greatest ever ODI batsman, Gayle will (probably, almost certainly, maybe) retire after this event, and so will be eager to go out with a typical bang. Two scores over 130, and two other half centuries at an average of 106 in the series against England and almost 500 runs from 13 innings in the IPL for Punjab Kings XI suggests at 39 he is in form.
Pitch too full and he can drive the fastest of bowlers straight back over their heads but drop too short on either side and expect to be on the receiving end of powerful cuts and pulls.
Andre Russell
One of the stars of this year’s IPL, Russel, a 360 degree shot-maker, l returns to the West Indies side for what will almost certainly be his last tournament. An allrounder as good as any when fit, knee issues might restrict his bowling but his batting at the death is brutal. You don’t have to run much when you hit the ropes so consistently. Questions linger over fitness and his ability to bring his T20 form to a 50 contest with the same intensity when bating and bowling longer spells. But it will be fun finding out.
Shai Hope
The fourth best ODI batsman, according to the ICC rankings, Hope is the anchor of any West Indies innings at No. 3, but of a modern free-scoring variety. If he can stick around deep in to an innings, his bullish claim that his team rather than England are the most likely to rank up the first 500 score in the format may well bare truth.
“Shai has been our most consistent player over the last two years and if he continues in that vein, he could be arguably one of our best ODI players to ever play,” says captain Jason Holder.
PREDICTION
Anyone’s guess really. A case can be made for them being one of the also-rans but also a lurking danger with a shot at sneaking in to the semi-finals, from where they would be more than capable of wrecking others’ ambitions. That’s what makes them such compulsive viewing. For what it’s worth your correspondent has them finishing fifth on the ladder.
FULL SQUAD
Jason Holder (capt), Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas.
FIXTURES
Friday, May 31: Pakistan (Trent Bridge, 7.30pm)
Thursday, June 6: Australia (Trent Bridge, 7.30pm)
Monday, June 10: South Africa (Southampton, 7.30pm)
Friday, June 14: England (Southampton, 7.30pm)
Monday, June 17: Bangladesh (Taunton, 7.30pm)
Saturday, June 22: New Zealand (Old Trafford, 10.30pm)
Thursday, July 27: India (Old Trafford, 7.30pm)
Monday, July 1: Sri Lanka (Chester-le-Street, 7.30pm)
Thursday, July 4: Afghanistan (Headingley, 7.30pm)
Originally published as Where there’s Hope there’s life: West Indies’ big hitters bring World Cup fireworks
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