ICC World Cup 2019
Part 16 - Will Windies win this world cup???
Read previous post of this blog series. Please check the below links
As we mentioned in our last post, the west indies cricket board changed their team name as Windies now. Some times the change in name as per numerology will work out well. Lets see this year how much it will reflect in this tournament. Windies always have dangerous hitters , quality allrounders and top pacers. Eventhough they are struggling to get trophy after 1979. The problem is individually their players are strong. But as a team they are failing to use the combined skills of players. Even their cricket board also did not providing such kind of facility to their team. Lets see how the 15 member squad strength is and the best XI for Windies to lift the trophy.
The Destructive tops:
After a long gap Universal Boss Chris Gayle returning his team in this world cup. Without any arguments Windies will definitely go for him as a destructive opener slot. Gayle going to play his last world cup this year. He may say goodbye to national cricket after this tournament. Lot of chances there. We all know about he is a beast opening batsman and a good part time spinner. Still he is in good form. In last world cup also he scored a tremendous double century against Zimbabwe and became the first left hander to score a double century in ODI's.
Having a left hander as universal best opener Windies team has to think the second batsman for opening. They have two best option Evin Lewis a left hander and Shai Hope a right hand wicket keeper. Our suggestion is better to keep hope on HOPE. Yes, Lewis is a good opener but his recent form raise a question about his opening spot. But Shai Hope is the young sensational of Windies team. He is having an average of 50plus in ODI's. Even before writing this post also he played a record breaking opening partnership by scoring 170 runs in One day international. More than than again a right and left hand combo at opening added additional strength to the team. Windies can use Lewis as third batsman.
After the retirement of legendary player Brain Lara, Windies struggled to found a player like him. But Lara gave a player to the team as a Xerox of him. Darren Bravo, he is a close relative of Lara. His batting style is similar to the legend like Sehwag resembles Sachin style. But it will take much time for him to reach Lara's record. He is having an experience of played more than 100 ODI matches. He is specialised in building the innings. So his best position to play at No4.
Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer at no 5. Both the youngsters grab lot of attention among world cricket fans. Both are good hitters. But experience matters when it coming to big tournaments like world cup. So its better to go with Shimron Hetmyer at no 4. He also played 25 matches but having better records than Pooran. Hetmyer's average is 40 plus in ODI with 4 centuries and 2 half centuries. Pooran may be a wicket keeping batsman but already Hope confirmed his spot. So there is no need for Pooran. Moreover Hetmyer is a left hander, so its better to maintain right and left combo at middle too.
Muscular All rounders:
In 2015 world cup West Indies all rounder line up was like this Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Darren Samy and Jason Holder. Among the above four only Russell and Holder is going to play this world cup. But nothing to worry both are best all rounders in the world. That too if Andre Russell current IPL form continues in world cup definitely Windies will score 100+ runs in last 8 overs for sure.
Jason Holder the captain of Windies, the young captain going to lead the team for second time in world cups. He is good bowler in taking wickets as well as good batsman in scoring boundaries whenever the team needs. So Russell and Holder should grab 6th and 7th position. Carlos Brathwaite is also there. But except that T20 world cup final sixes at Stokes over he didnt play any innings for remembering in ODI's. So its just like filling XI members for playing if we add this guy.
Windies team does not need any spinners. Because they never get tired, they are ready to bowl the entire 50 overs as fast bowling also. Still they have a good spinner and one only full time spinner in the squad, Ashley Nurse. Its a quite surprise decision for fans why they pick Nurse ahead of Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree. Its a mystery question. No one having answer for this except the Windies cricket board selection committee members. Still the off breaker confirms his spot in playing XI at no 10.
England pitch always a heaven for pacers, particulary tall pacers. Windies squad having lot of options to bowl at England. Unfortunately only three can play in match. Two of them is confirmed one is Windies speedster Kemar Roach and another one is tall pacer Shanon Gabriel. for the third bowler there is a tough competition between Shelton Cottrell and Oshane Thomas. As per our analysis Cottrell should play in the match. In some matches or if he fails Windies can use Thomas. Cottrell is a left arm fast bowler which helps in picking right hand batsmen. When both their top bowlers roach and gabriel are right handers. Windies can use Oshane Thomas if opponents doesnt have a destructive right handers like rohit, finch and bairstow.
Best XI for Play:
1. Chris Gayle
2. Shai Hope (wk)
3. Evin Lewis
4. Darren Bravo
5. Shimron Hetmyer
6. Andre Russell
7. Jason Holder (C)
8. Ashley Nurse
9. Kemar Roach
10. Shanon Gabriel
11. Shelton Cottrell (or) Oshane Thomas
Schedule for wc 2019:
Windies going to play their first match itself against pakistan, then its australia, South Africa and England. In first four matches itself they were going to face strong teams. They need atleast 1 win in four matches to keep their confidence level at high. If they win 3 matches in first 4 definitely Windies will finish at top 4. At the same time they should not underestimate Bangladesh. Windies can easily win afghans but not the Bangladesh. Both teams will have same type of proportion at the time of match in the range of batting and bowling. But its depending on how they perform on match day. Out of 9 windies should win 5 matches, then only they can able to think of semi finals. But its difficult, they have balanced team but its holder's responsible to take decision on pitch. He should use Gayle at right time as part time bowler to break partnership. Lets hope Windies will back as old West Indies in this world cup.
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