After losing the opening match, the Kiwis came roaring back into the series with a dominant 50-run (DLS) win over the Windies on Friday. The team would have taken plenty of encouragement after bowling out New Zealand for 212, led by Kevin Sinclair’s industrious 4 for 41.
In their turn at the crease, however, the Windies batsmen could not come to grips with the duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee. Together, the two combined for a relentless opening spell that left the home team six wickets down in the 10th over.
Overall, the duo finished with seven wickets and ended the Windies response before it began. Southee finished with 4 for 22 and Boult 3 for 18.
Cariah, however, did play his part in making a contest of things. He provided the majority of the little resistance getting his maiden half-century in an 85-run partnership with Alzarri Joseph. With the series and possibly an automatic spot at the ICC World Cup on the line the bowler knows the team can’t afford a repeat performance at the crease.
“We need to find a way to bat the first 10 overs from Southee and Boult, keep them out of the game in the wickets column and we will be fine,” Cariah said ahead of Sunday’s decider.
“I just think with the new ball is we had faced some balls and bat some overs and get ourselves in it would have been easier for us,” he added.
Both teams will enter the match-up at opposite ends of the spectrum so to speak. While the West Indies have looked in splendid form after wins over Nigeria, Australia and England, New Zealand barely made their way into the final eight. The Kiwis managed just a solitary win in three games. After no play was possible in their first fixture against Japan, due to rain, New Zealand defeated Sri Lanka but we then defeated by India. Despite the differences in results to date, West insists the Caribbean team is taking nothing for granted.
“Most of the performances last week were very pleasing but now we are in the knockout stage and it’s about your performance in the last three games of the tournament, rather than the first three games,” West said.
“Certainly, New Zealand are always a very competitive team outstanding in the field and quite creative in terms of their batting and their bowling. They played a reduced overs game against India and at one point they were 100 for 1 off 10 overs with their positive intent at the top of the order. They fell away as spinners took hold but certainly it’s a warning to us in terms of the approach that they have and we’re going to have to match that.”
Spinner Akeal Hosain and pace bowler Alzarri Josephs both had strong performances, claiming figures of 3 for 52 and 2 for 33 respectively, and the Windies bowling line-up was dominant in patches. Even so, the last two overs of the innings went for a damaging 27 runs as Pakistan put on 275.
In the previous match, the hosts took 44 from the last four to secure a narrow five-wicket win.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a problem, but we definitely need to review it and keep working. We know that has been a problem for us in the last couple of months, last couple years actually,” Pooran said, following the match.
“It's a new team as well, the guys are young and inexperienced. We are in the rebuilding stages and obviously, we can’t get everything right and it (death bowling) is hurting us but having said that we’ll learn from this experience and hopefully we get better with every game we play,” he added.
The West Indies will face Pakistan in the third and final One Day International (ODI) on Sunday.
On Thursday, the regional team limped out of semi-final contention after losing to Sri Lanka by 20 runs, a result that had followed heavy defeats to England and South Africa.
In between the three defeats, the team did manage one win, which came against Bangladesh but that was far from some of the loftier expectations heading into the event.
Ahead of the competition, the selection of several senior players had proven to be a major bone of contention with some fans around the region, who clamoured for younger players to be included.
In response, however, it was argued that the experience of the senior players would prove vital to the campaign. In reality, things did not quite pan out that way. The likes of Chris Gayle, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Dwayne Bravo, and Pollard himself, had disappointing performances. In addition to his performances with the bat and ball, Wallace argues, however, that Pollard failed to deliver in another key area, his leadership.
“I think Pollard has failed us in that he has not stepped up to lead the team, the way we thought he would have led the team,” Wallace told the Mason and Guest radio program.
“…I thought that Pollard would have been the one to step up and say gentlemen I will take this on my back, and we are going to do this, X, Y, Z. To tell the public that it is not a developing tour and then be in the position that we are in with seasoned campaigners is detrimental to his credibility,” he added.
“For all that he is worth in T20 cricket, I have not seen it at this World Cup…I know he had an injury but I expected more from him in terms of gluing that middle order together and with bowling and stuff, those guys needed a leader.”
Overall, Pollard scored 46 runs, with a best of 26 and an average of 15.33.
Chasing a sizeable 469 and with one day rained out, the Windies needed at least 270 to ensure England did at least bat again. A battling knock of 68 from 137 balls by Brooks went on a long way in ensuring the team got to 287, on the back of a devastating new-ball spell from England pace bowler Stuart Broad.
Brooks also featured in two key partnerships. He paired with opener Kraigg Brathwaite for 76 runs and with middle-order batsman Roston Chase for 43. With England back at crease, 219 runs ahead, but two wickets down thanks to impressive late evening bowling by Kemar Roach, all eyes will be focused on how many runs the team will feel is needed to feel comfortable before putting the West Indies back in to bat.
“Yesterday being rained out we knew it was a crucial day lost in this Test match. We knew the situation was just having to come today and bat for as long as possible,” Brooks told members of the media, via a Zoom press conference, at the end of the day’s play.
“Yes, it is England's game and we knew that saving the follow-on was important but the more time that we batted today is the harder it made it for England to get a result out of this game,” he added.
Holder led the West Indies to a surprise 2-1 victory over the then number one team in the world during the series played in the Caribbean in early 2019 and took hold of the Wisden Trophy.
However, during a press conference in the UK on Wednesday, a day after the team arrived for their three-Test series, Holder was quick to dismiss any notion that his team were favourites to win the series that will be played behind closed doors.
“So many things have changed from then to now, conditions being one of them. To call us favourites would be wrong. England are a higher-ranked side than us and I think they are favourites in their back yard,” said Holder.
“There is lots to play for and lots to motivate you as a group. Guys are pumped up for the opportunity and the only sad thing is that we won’t be able to play in front of the crowds.”
Holder believes his players should cherish the opportunity to play notwithstanding recent developments wherein the players are facing a 50 per cent temporary pay cut imposed by a cash-strapped Cricket West Indies.
“I see so many leagues in jeopardy and the World T20 as well -- so the mere fact we are getting an opportunity to play cricket I think we should cherish that,” Holder said.
“Many organisations are taking pay cuts and we have suddenly got our opportunity now to make some money so we have a lot of things to be thankful for and I think we just have to relish the opportunity and grab it with both hands.”
The West Indies will spend the next four weeks preparing for the series that begins with the first Test at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8.
Known internationally for their flamboyant, swashbuckling style, the Caribbean team will head into next week's tournament as defending champions. However, despite having captured the global title on two occasions, questions have been raised in recent times regarding the team’s batting approach.
With a batting line-up filled with heavy hitters, the problematic issue stems from the tendency to soak up too many dot balls. Pooran admits that it has been a focus but in the grand scheme of things the team intends to stay true to its style as it has delivered success in the past.
“We have net sessions and we as a group have spoken about it, we have players to play certain roles, honestly. As a batting group, we want to get better, we want to improve, and getting singles is a part of that game as well, but our focus is not so much on singles,” Pooran told members of the media on Tuesday.
“We won two World Cups with the same problems, to be honest, not getting singles. I don’t think the emphasis is so much on it, but on intent and playing smart cricket. There are times that we know that will have to put our egos aside and grind for the team and if that means pushing a dot ball and getting singles, we’ll do that.”
In the rain-affected fixture, India triumphed by a massive 119-runs via the Duckworth Lewis method, after Shubman Gill’s 98 anchored the team’s first innings effort of 225 for 3, in a reduced 36 overs.
In pursuit, the West Indies never really got things out of first gear. As early as the second over, Mohammed Siraj dealt the men in maroon an early blow, after getting rid of Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks in the same over, which left the team struggling at 0 for 2.
King and Shai Hope put on a 47-run stand to give the team a fighting chance. Yuzvendra Chahal struck to end the partnership, however, after Hope was stumped for 22. King then partnered with Pooran to keep the recovery going, but that momentum was ended when Axar Patel's arm-ball bowled King for 42, leaving the team at 5-103.
With a climbing run rate the struggles of Keacy Carty, who was next at the crease, put pressure on Pooran to keep up with the run rate. Carty was put out of his misery after going down the pitch to Shardul and edging the ball onto the stumps, making a total of 5 from 17 balls.
With the rate needed climbing to 10 an over Pooran was dismissed for 42 when he was caught at mid-on off by Prasidh Krishna. Chahal ended with the best figures for India after taking 4 for 17.
The 39-year-old pace bowler last suited up for the regional team against Sri Lanka, at Pallekele, in 2012. Edwards has been unavailable for selection after signing a Kolpak deal in 2015. However, the player became available again with the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union and the termination of such contracts.
Earlier this year, the player announced his availability for the West Indies and also took part in the IPL and Abu Dhabi T10 League. Despite being one of the oldest active players, in the sport, Edwards has lost none of the pace he has always been noted for and is cable of exceeding 90mph deliveries. His pace and guile were very much on display in a fiery over against in-form young compatriot Nicholas Pooran during the T10 league.
The Barbadian-born right-arm pacer has played 20 T20 internationals for the West Indies and claimed 16 wickets. He has also taken part in 55 Tests and 50 One-day Internationals. Edwards hopes to be part of the T20 World Cup squad, which will attempt to defend its title in October.
Russell played a starring role as the Windies closed out its T20 series against Sri Lanka, with a convincing 7 wickets win at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Friday. The 2-0 win triumph for the West Indies was the team’s first series win against an opponent since Bangladesh in 2019.
For a re-tooled Windies team looking to win an unprecedented third world title, the all-rounder believes that while the team has a long way to go, the victory is timely encouragement.
“We are peaking at the right time but we still have some areas to work on as a team,” Russell, who was named man of the series, said.
“We have a new set of guys who have the professional mind-set and we know what we have to do to better than what we have been doing. I just hope everyone is in tuned in and ready to make the sacrifices moving forward to work on our cricket.”
Russell ended the series with a decisive 75 runs and one wicket.
Since 1994, the teams have played 10 series between them, with the West Indies winning two and Sri Lanka winning three. The rest have ended in draws. None of the West Indies wins have come in Sri Lanka. In fact, the West Indies are yet to win a match in Sri Lanka and suffered a 2-0 loss on their last visit in 2016.
Brathwaite believes the current squad, who did experience some success on the continent in February with a win over Bangladesh, is capable of finally breaking this long-running trend.
“I was here in 2016, my first series here and we lost both matches. As a youngster it didn’t feel good just coming into the team. Now I’m looking forward to these games, I think we have a very good team,” Brathwaite told members of the media on Thursday.
“This team is ready to go, and we are ready to break the shackles and win some games in Sri Lanka this time around,” he added.
The West Indies face Sri Lanka in a two-Test series in the Caribbean earlier this year, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
The 25-year-old has to date been cast in the role of a short-ball specialist, having made 21 T20I appearances for the West Indies and 25 One Day International (ODI) matches. Pooran is, however, yet to make any Test match appearances.
Richards has, however, seen enough in the play of the batsman to suggest he could be a very viable option for the four-day format, where the West Indies has struggled to make any headway in recent years.
“We could look at that and I think he could be a serious option down in the middle order, with the gloves on as well. These are some of the things they may have to look at because I think he has got a serious head on him in terms of the way he thinks. He looks pretty serious and the way he would have adapted so far at the highest level, I just think that could be another option,” Richards told the Good Morning Jojo radio program.
“He is a power player as well, and he has got the ability to play all formats, but it is just sometimes you have coaches telling you what they think you should be doing and the things they think you’re good at, but sometimes I believe you have to give these guys a chance. If they have it in mind that they would love to play all these various formats, then why not.”
The new training outfits were unveiled during the West Indies training camp at Emirates Old Trafford. The training kits feature lightweight, performance-enhancing fabrics and an ultra-modern dark blue, maroon and pink design that the players love and that fans around world will be excited to wear.
The new Test “whites” will be revealed ahead of the upcoming three-Test series against England when the West Indies will be defending the Wisden Trophy at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton (July 8-12) and then at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester (July 16-20 and July 24-28).
Castore, the fast-growing premium performance brand will supply team kits for Test, T20 Internationals (T20I) and One-Day International (ODI) games and covering the men’s, women’s and age-group teams from Under-15 level upwards. It is the Liverpool-based company’s first deal in team sports and its first move into cricket apparel.
“We know the players are excited to get their hands on the new performance training range from Castore, especially during this unique training camp. Castore has listened to the needs of our players and coaching staff to deliver a range of superb kit and we’re looking forward to revealing a special Test kit ahead of this historic Series,” said CWI Commercial Director, Dominic Warne.
Phil Beahon, the co-founder of Castore, said he was delighted and honoured to have been chosen by Cricket West Indies as the West Indies Official Kit Partner.
“Castore creates world-leading sportswear garments designed to enhance the performance of elite athletes and we are incredibly excited about the opportunity to contribute to the next chapter of history for one of the most successful international teams in cricket,” he said.
The last time the regional team faced Sri Lanka away, in 2015, it was the part-time spin of Brathwaite that stole of as the batsman claimed six wickets in an innings. The frontline pace bowlers Kemar Roach (2), Jason Holder (3), Shannon Gabriel (1) failed to have a huge impact on the series, with the exception of Jerome Taylor who claimed 6 over two games.
Although the captain admits the surface is likely to favour spinners, Brathwaite is confident the Windies quicks will have a big role to play.
We haven’t been there as yet to see the surface but there’s always a role for the fast bowlers. Shannon Gabriel really led the way in Bangladesh in the first Test, bowling with some good pace, then Kemar Roach getting an early wicket in the morning was very crucial. Obviously, Jason wasn’t there but is always crucial. So, I do believe that possibly there being spin-friendly pitches, I think the pace bowlers will do well.
“I can see them getting wickets. It’s really about building pressure but seamers are very important and obviously, Shannon will bring some aggression and I look forward to seeing the guys operating.”
The tour is set to take place between January 10 and February 11. It was greenlighted on the recommendation of the CWI’s Medical Advisory Committee (MAC), who received a detailed report from a pre-tour visit of Bangladesh by CWI Director and Member of the CWI and ICC MAC, Dr. Mansingh, and Security Manager, Paul Slowe.
The recommendations have, however, not been enough to convince some players to embark on the tour. With 510,080 confirmed coronavirus cases and 7,479 deaths, Bangladesh is one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The country has, however, been hosting cricket tournaments under heavy quarantine restrictions.
According to initial reports, both captain Jason Holder and vice-captain Roston Chase have opted out of the tour with out-of-favour batsman Shai Hope also reportedly unwilling to accept the invitation. The West Indies were one of the first teams to resume playing international cricket when they travelled to England in July. The team then went on to travel to New Zealand for another series earlier this month. Cricket West Indies (CWI) is expected to announce the squad for the tour within the next 24 hours.
The West Indies found themselves on the losing side of another series, after going down by 8 runs to India on Friday. The result saw the South Asian team claim an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, after winning the opener by 7 wickets.
This time, however, in pursuit of a solid 186 for 5, the team went a lot closer to the target and was more comfortable in the run chase. A 100-run partnership from Nicholas Pooran and Rovman Powell got the team close to India's score, and, in fact, until a miserly 18th over from Harshal Patel it seemed the West Indies were favourites to level the series.
According to the West Indies captain, while the team may have come up just short on runs, the approach was closer to what was required.
“I thought the partnership with him (Rovman Powell) and Pooran almost got us over the line. Sometimes that’s all we are asking from the guys to bat as deep as possible and for me, I’m pleased, obviously not with the result but with the way they continue to aim for consistency,” he added.
The partnership was the fourth-highest between two Windies players since 2019, adding to an overall 306 scored in 6 matches, whenever the duo of Powell and Pooran has come together during that time.
“Nicholas got another half-century, Powell has gotten two in the last four games, so, we are making progress.”
Despite the high of coming off a dominant T20I series, the Windies were crushed by 133 runs, via the DLS method. Batting first, Australia made 259 for 9 but in response, the West Indies could only muster 123 all out and were at one stage, 27 for 6.
For his part, Pollard, who only just returned to the team, made a battling 56. In an innings where four batsmen were dismissed without scoring, the captain could have used more of that grit from the rest of the team.
“I was disappointed with our overall batting performance, not being able to chase down 250 from the position that we were in,” Pollard told members of the media.
“I didn’t think we showed enough fight or enough courage. They are going to come hard at us, it’s an experienced bowling attack that they have so we need to fight as a team and as individuals when we go out there.”
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc was the dangerman for the tourists after ending with figures of 5 for 48.
The 36-year-old Bravo will be heavily involved in the proceedings from start to finish, beginning with the tournament launch press conference in February, to a celebrity appearance on the final day.
The tournament, now in its third year, has garnered increased interest for this edition with a reported 40 teams in pursuit of just 20 spots. The first two editions of the tournament saw 16 teams take part. Bravo has indicated his delight at both the association with and taking part in the tournament.
“I am delighted to be the face of the 10PL World Cup of tennis ball cricket tournament. I have learned a lot of my key tricks that I'm sure many of the players in the tournament will employ, especially the use of slower ball and Yorkers,” Bravo said.
“The tournament, therefore, promises to be the perfect platform for raw talents to showcase what they are capable of. I am really looking forward to this competition,” he added.
Meanwhile, Abdul Latif Khan, who is the chairman of Petromann Events has expressed delight with having Bravo onboard.
“It is an absolute honour to have Bravo as the face of the tournament. In the coming days we will be unveiling a campaign with Bravo to further raise the profile of the tournament,” he said.
The tournament is expected to take place between the 8-13 of March.
The 41-year-old star batsman recently stepped in front of the mike with British-Indian singer Avina Shah for a single titled Groove. The music video which was shot in two separate locations, during the pandemic, is also a mix of Indian and English, and is set to a lively, club-rocking beat.
The track wasn’t the musician’s first foray into the music entertainment business. Earlier this year the star batsman recorded a remix of Jamaican entertainer Stylo G’s Too Hot. The cricketer, who is known for having a good time, recently revealed that there is likely to be more to come from him in the future and even during his ongoing career.
“Well, I am someone who doesn’t really like to have limits in life. No limits is what I believe in. I love music and I am fun-loving by nature,” Gayle told IWMBuzz.
“I have recently got an entire music studio set up in my house and I will certainly be looking forward to making more songs to entertain the fans. I can happily say that music will now co-exist in my life along with cricket.”
Gayle isn’t the first West Indian cricketer to make an incursion into music and follows on the heels of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.
The 31-year-old T20 star was forced to have surgery on his left knee after being out of the ICC World Cup with the injury. Despite having a successful T20 career the issue has kept the player out of the longer formats of the game.
In retrospect, the big hitter believes things could have been dealt with differently by taking better care of the issue and has warned developing players not to follow his example.
Russell is expected to undergo an injury assessment to determine his level of fitness as the team steps up its plans for this year’s T20 World Cup.
“Those who want to be another Russell should never do what happened to me. When I was 23 or 24 I began to get knee pain,” Russell told Gulf News.
“If I had someone tell me: ‘Look Russ, you should get your knee stronger by keep doing these simple exercises, I would have been pain-free from my knees and hopefully I wouldn’t have to have had surgery. Unfortunately, at 23 you are fearless, and I used to ignore that pain and I always gave it a quick fix by taking pain killers and kept running,” he added.
“By the time I reached my late twenties I started feeling the pain like I never felt before. The wear and tear began to show up. If I was doing those strengthening exercises like training of the legs and doing the right things, I would have been fitter.”
“I want the youngsters to know that guys should not just think about the upper body alone,” he explained.
“I used to go to gym and just work only on my abs and my shoulders because I wanted to look sexy for the girls. At the end of the day being sexy and then your legs being weak, don’t work. So it is very important to have a complete work out of the body. I could have done more wonders had I worked on my legs too.”
