Captain: Rovman Powell
Equipment: Papua New Guinea (June 2), Uganda (June 9), New Zealand (June 13), Afghanistan (June 18)
Finest lead to T20 World Cup: Champions (2012 and 2016)
The West Indies’ regular rise to the highest of the game within the Nineteen Seventies was constructed on a ferocious tempo quartet, however their plan to win the T20 World Cup, which they co-host with the USA, might rely upon a trio. of spinners.
For nearly 4 a long time, the Caribbean launched ultra-fast launchers that struck worry into their opponents. From Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall to Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose, it was an unbelievable line of bowling expertise.
The demise of cricket within the area within the final 20 years is way lamented, primarily by and due to the lack of the fun of watching cricket giants bowl the ball with such velocity and aggression.
Whereas the dominance of Take a look at and one-day internationals (ODIs) has waned for the reason that flip of the century, Twenty20 cricket has turn out to be one thing of a beacon for West Indies followers. This match is predicted to mark a document third World Cup victory on this format the place spinners might be decisive, in line with former West Indies selector and England batsman Roland Butcher.
“The West Indies have man-to-man gamers to win,” Butcher informed Al Jazeera. “His energy might be his spin bowling. Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie and Roston Chase might be key gamers.”
Transferring ahead 🆙️
He #MenInMaroon transfer two factors till #4️⃣ within the males’s ICC T20I rankings.👏🏿#WIRE #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/GaIFZWUd1l
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) Could 30, 2024
India and Pakistan will reap the benefits of US headquarters
The group levels of the match might be performed in three venues in the USA (New York, Dallas and Florida) and all through the Caribbean.
The ultimate levels of the match will transfer to the Caribbean, the place the West Indies will play all their matches. Butcher believes it will profit the present era of Caribbean gamers after South Africa’s 3-0 defeat within the T20 sequence in Could.
“The fields [in the Caribbean] They do not actually swimsuit quicker bowlers,” Butcher continued.
“The ball was turning into sq. for the spin bowlers within the sequence in opposition to South Africa, [Gudakesh] Motie acquired three in every of the primary two video games to win the matches and you will see plenty of that taking place.
“America courts are going to be the most effective in your entire match. I’ve a sense they’ve produced Australian releases.
“Hopefully we’ll see nations like India and Pakistan rating plenty of runs, nevertheless it will not be the identical in the case of the West Indies, the scores might be a lot decrease.”
West Indies wait earlier than T20 World Cup
Barbados-born Butcher, who was the primary black participant to play for England, was a part of the choice panel that helped the West Indies vastly enhance their performances within the final two years throughout all codecs. That included a primary check victory, to tie the sequence, in Australia in 20 years.
The scenes of celebration on the sector have been unbelievable, with one of many rising quick bowlers, Jaydon Seales, turning again time and claiming a five-wicket haul.
The scenes throughout the Caribbean might be electrifying if the workforce can go on and safe a document third T20 crown, and their first at residence.
“There’s plenty of optimism within the Caribbean in the intervening time about this World Cup, perhaps individuals are additionally overconfident, pondering that the West Indies simply want to indicate up and they’re going to win it,” Butcher stated.
“I do not subscribe to that. You continue to need to play good cricket for a complete match to win it.”
“The West Indies actually have the sport to beat the large groups as soon as, however we should wait and see whether or not, over the course of the match, they’ll keep that normal.”
Butcher, who has been serving to Oman put together for his or her World Cup marketing campaign, primarily fears the dearth of taking part in time for the West Indies gamers forward of the match’s opener in opposition to Papua New Guinea on Sunday.
“My solely concern is the dearth of match preparation of the gamers who’ve been sitting on the bench within the Indian Premier League,” he stated.
“Solely Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer have performed many matches within the IPL. The others have had one or two video games, some have had none and now they’re returning to start out a world match, that may have an effect on them.”
The ultimate two group matches are prone to be troublesome for the West Indies when, after going through Uganda within the second match, they face New Zealand and Afghanistan.
“They might begin slowly and lose two video games and be out of competition,” Butcher added. “Fortunately for them, Papua New Guinea is the primary sport. So even when the workforce is under par, they need to have the ability to recover from that hurdle. However far more troublesome video games await them.
“If they’ll shoot, they’ve a superb likelihood. However I’m frightened in regards to the lack of cricket for them.”
With Oman head coach Duleep Mendis in Barbados on the Group World Cup coaching camp. Delighted to work with the Oman workforce. pic.twitter.com/F0U3mYjTX9
– Roland Butcher (@butcher_roland) Could 17, 2024
Three gamers to observe
André Russell: The all-rounder is a veteran with two T20 World Cup wins in 2012 and 2016 and an vital cog in Kolkata Knight Rider’s title-winning run within the not too long ago concluded IPL. The 36-year-old’s kind with bat and ball, proper as much as the ultimate, was essential to Kolkata’s third IPL title.
Akeal Hosein: The gradual left-arm spinner is ranked eighth among the many greatest T20 bowlers on this planet. The 31-year-old, born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, has taken 136 T20 wickets at a median of 25 all through his profession. He’s solely now gaining prominence on the worldwide stage, having debuted for the West Indies in 2021.
Brandon Rey: The suitable-handed batsman has risen to eighth place on this planet T20 batting rankings due to his damaging and highly effective type. The 29-year-old Jamaican began as a middle-order batsman however has risen to turn out to be an opener. He scored 79 within the opening match of the current T20 sequence in opposition to South Africa and was named participant of the match.
