Testing time for the Windies
THE WEST Indies open their 12th tour of India on Thursday (Wednesday night local time) with nothing, as far as victory is concerned, but a hope, or a wish, for victory or for a draw.
Of the 45 matches in the subcontingent, the West Indies have won 14 and lost 11, while drawing 20, and in the 49 matches in the West Indies, they have won 16, lost 7, and drawn 26.
The important numbers, however, come from the last six series anywhere, at home and abroad, where in 19 matches, India have been dominant, winning 10, losing none, and drawing nine, most of them while they were in a winning position.
The future, therefore, looks bleak, even when it is remembered that lndia are now just coming off a disappointing tour of England where they lost 4-1, a loss that may have affected their confidence.
For the West Indies, it is important to remember that India were playing away from home and also that it was, in spite of the scoreline and apart from the first match, a close, intriguing, and exciting battle.
This time, however, India will be playing at home, and on top of that, they boast a formidable aggregation, especially in the batting and bowling departments.
In captain Virat Kohli, India parade the world’s top batsman, and surrounding him are quality batsmen like KH Rahul, Shikkar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Chetestwar Pujara, Ajinka Rahane; the 20-year-old Risbah Pant; and the 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw.
And then there are the all-rounders – off-spinner Ravichandra Ashwin, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, and mediumpacer Hardik Pandya, followed by spinner left-arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav, and, surprisingly for India, a
GABRIEL
quintet of fast bowlers in Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Jasprit Bumrah.
As formidable as India seem, as gloomy as things may look, and although India are ranked number one and the West Indies are ranked number eight, the Windies can rise to the occasion and surprise everyone, including India, and especially in a short twoTest series.
They have shown in the past that they know how to win, and apart from obviously possessing the quality previously, they have also shown, on one or two occasions in the recent past, that they have had the quality to perform in big company, that they have won, and that they can win against the big boys.
They won against England in Bridgetown in 2015, they won again against England in Leeds in 2017, and on both occasions, it was against the odds.
ATTRACTIVE CRICKET
If the West Indies can find, or recapture, the kind of team spirit and the confidence to back their ability like their predecessors of yesteryear, to play attractive and attacking cricket, and to play cricket the West Indian way, they can, with a little luck, rise to the occasion.
Captain Jason Holder has grown in the job. His batting, which has always promised much, is beginning to show signs of fulfilling its early potential, and his bowling has increased in swing and bounce if not in pace.
And although it does not appear as strong as India’s, if its combination of pace, bounce, and accuracy was not a figment of the imagination, if its success against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh was the real stuff, and if Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel can stay fit and can reproduce that form, the West Indies fast bowling attack can prosper against the traditionally timid Indian batsmen as Roy Gilchrist, Wes Hall, Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, and company did years ago.
Probably the real test will be that of the West Indies batsmen against India’s bowlers.
Ishant Sharma, Shami, Bumrah, Ashwin, Kuldeep, and company are good and will be a difficult proposition on home soil, but the West Indies batsmen possess enough quality to conquer.
Although it is hot, and it can be very hot in India, the condition and pitches are not that different from those in the West Indies, and there is good reason to expect Kraigg Brathwaite, eight centuries under his belt, including an innings of 134 and another of 95 in Leeds last year; Kieron Powell, who started his career so promisingly; and Roston Chase, especially after his innings of 137 not out versus India in 2016 and those of 138 and 101 not out against Pakistan in 2017 could deliver again this time around.
Although Sunil Ambris is one to look at, the batsmen who could really steal the show, however, are Shai Hope and young Shimron Hetmeyer.
Hope has already demonstrated his class, especially in an innings of 147 and 118 not out against England in Leeds last year, but he needs to cement his quality, and Hetmeyer has hinted of class and waiting to display it, especially in the Test match arena.
With right-arm leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo, remembering his eight for 49 against Pakistan in Dubai and itching to go; wicket/batsman Shane Dowrich coming off two good series; and promising young fast bowlers Keemo Paul and Sherman Lewis, hopefully, rearing to go, it could be two Test matches to remember.
For that to come to pass, however, the West Indies will have to play out of their skins; they will have to show the grit and determination of Leeds last year; and they will, especially their batsmen, need to perform consistently and not lapse into attempting elaborate and unnecessary strokes which often times lead to mistakes and disaster.
SUPER 50
One day before the Test series against India gets under way, the Super50 limited-over tournament is scheduled to start in the Caribbean, and the promise is for an interesting and exciting tournament, with the group matches scheduled for Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago and the semifinals and final for Barbados.
Although the West Indies will be away, on show will be players like Chris Gayle, Rovman Powell, and Oshane Thomas, who will play the first two or three matches for the Jamaica Scorpions; Jerome Taylor of the Scorpions; and Marlon Samuels, who is also expected to play two or three matches for Windies ‘B’.
From the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force will be Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, and Sunil Narine, who are hunting places on the West Indies team to next year’s World Cup; Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, and Denesh Ramdin, who, if selected, are expected to play throughout the tournament; along with Evin Lewis, who is also expected to play two or three matches.
Others who are expected to be on parade during the tournament are players like batsmen Brandon King, Fabian Allen, and Sherfane Rutherford, leftarm spinner Khari Pierre; pace bowler Romario Shephard; and left-arm pacer Obed McCoy; and also, possibly, André Russell.
The interesting thing about the Super50 tournament this year is the number of players, who earlier had refused the West Indies board’s olive branch, who had refused to represent the West Indies in the World Cup qualifier earlier this year, and who have decided to play in their bid to get into the team for next year’s big showpiece, the World Cup.