West Indies ICC World Cup squad – Young guns and old hats, the calypso cowboys are blazing into form.
Back in march, the Caribbean side surprised and delighted pundits and experts by competing toe to toe with number 1 ranked team in the world, England, levelling a closely fought five-match one-day international series. Former West Indies legend Brian Lara recently called the team the “surprise element” in this World Cup. And with unpredictability, immense flair and devastating playmakers, Windies are sure to bring the party to town wherever they play in next month’s ICC Cricket World Cup
West Indies selectors have opted for the big guns but have also favoured youthful IPL and other franchise cricket form by selecting some young and exciting talent as well.
Andre Russell, who last played an ODI in July 2018 – his first one-day game in three years –, has made a comeback to the Windies side. A raft of injuries and a one-year ban in 2017 had stalled the Jamaican’s progress in international cricket but the selectors have shown faith in the 30-year-old, bringing him back into the fold. Russell has been in exceptional form in T20 leagues around the world. In the Indian Premier League season he has accumulated 392 runs at an astonishing strike-rate of 217.77 and hit 41 sixes. If his form continues he will light up this year’s World Cup.
While Russell may have been interstellar at this year’s IPL, Chris Gayle has been a lot more than sub-orbital himself. The experienced left-hander is all set to play his fifth and final World Cup. He has been in outstanding form in international cricket. In the five ODIs he has played this year, he has accumulated 424 runs at an average of 106. Gayle will be looking to push on and firmly cement his legacy amongst the firmament of cricketing legend.
As well as seasoned pros, the selectors have rewarded youthful enthusiasm and talent giving two young bucks a run out at the World Cup. Shimron Hetmyer and Oshane Thomas, both 22, have been referred to as West Indies’ most promising players in recent times. While Hetmyer, who debuted in December 2017, has already gone on to establish himself as a vital cog in the middle order, Thomas, who played his first ODI in October last year, has been touted as the next great West Indies fast bowler. Both had a terrific Caribbean Premier League in 2018 and have carried that form forward since. Hetmyer, who has scored close to 900 ODI runs, has been striking well this year. And Thomas, who consistently hits speeds of over 145 km/h, has already picked up 15 wickets in nine ODIs, including a match-winning five-wicket haul against England last month.
Provisional West Indies ICC Cricket World Cup Squad:
Jason Holder (Captain), Fabian Allen, Carlos Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (Wicketkeeper), Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Nicholas Pooran, Kemar Roach, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas.
West Indies squad current stats:
Specialist batsmen:
Chris Gayle (288 ODIs, Average 38.02, Highest score 215)
Darren Bravo (104 ODIs, Average 30.89, Highest score 124)
Evin Lewis (34 ODIs, Average 31.56, Highest score 176)
Shimron Hetmyer (24 ODIs, Average 40.86. Highest score 127)
All-rounders:
Bowler/batter:
Ashley Nurse (46 ODIs, batting average 19.5, Highest score 44: Bowling right-arm off-break, 46 wickets, best bowling figures 4 for 51)
Fabian Allen (5 ODIs, batting average 6.25, Highest score 10: Bowling left-arm orthodox, 0 wickets, best bowling figures 0 for 5)
Andre Russell (52 ODIs, batting average 28.51, Highest score 92: Bowling right-arm fast, 65 wickets, best bowling figures 4 for 35)
Carlos Brathwaite (32 ODIs, batting average 14.41, Highest score 50: Bowling right-arm fast-medium, 31 wickets, best bowling figures 5 for 27)
Jason holder (Captain – 91 ODIs, batting average 25.63, Highest score 99: Bowling right-arm fast-medium, 120 wickets, best bowling figures 5 for 27)
Wicket-keeper/ batter:
Nicholas Pooran (1 ODIs, batting average 0, Highest score 0)
Shai Hope (50 ODIs, batting average 48.51, Highest score 170)
Specialist Bowlers:
Kemar Roach (83 ODIs, Right-arm fast, 116 wickets, 6 for 27)
Oshane Thomas (8 ODIs, Right-arm fast, 15 wickets, 5 for 21)
Shannon Gabriel (21 ODIs, Right-arm fast-medium, 29 wickets, 3 for 17)
Sheldon Cottrell (12 ODIs, Left-arm fast-medium, 17 wickets, 5 for 46)
Of the squad selection, interim chairman of the Cricket West Indies selection panel Robert Haynes said:
“Based on the new selection policy approach which allowed us to consider a number of players that have not regularly appeared in the side over the last two years, we had a wide base of talent from which to choose.”
He went on to add:
“There were a number of tough calls we had to make to settle on our squad of 15, including ensuring there was some continuity in the side, but we believe we have chosen a strong squad of players taking into consideration such factors as experience, fitness, team balance, current form and conditions.”
“Looking at the condition of pitches in ODIs over the last few years in England and Wales, it appears that big totals will be the order of the day, so we believe we have a line-up that can put big totals on the board or chase them, as we have seen from recent matches.
“With players like the captain, Jason Holder, as well as Andre Russell in the lower middle-order, we believe we have good depth to our batting which will allow us to play the brand of cricket that will give us the best of chance of winning the World Cup.”
Based on their recent form, the Windies may well prove Brian Lara correct and surprise those pre-tournament favourites with their calypso bravado and the supreme skillset to back it up. Keep a close eye on this wealth of Caribbean cricketing flair as a real outside chance!
Dan McTiernan from Expat Sport reviews a truly exciting West Indies squad named for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England and Wales.
