“Zimbabwe done and dusted - Now on to greater things for West Indies”

“Zimbabwe done and dusted – Now on to greater things for West Indies”

Mar 24, 2013 Sports

Colin E. H. Croft

Right! That is Zimbabwe done and dusted. West Indies should be pleased to have won every game of this tour. However, captain Darren Sammy, coach Ottis Gibson and players would know that life will become much more difficult when they meet better prepared opponents!
Zimbabwe was never in any of the games of this short but fact-finding tour, one which told them that they, like cricket teams around the world, have good talent and much potential, but that they also need to play much more regularly to realize that potential these next years.
International Cricket Council must now be massively pro-active, making things happen for Zimbabwe!
While West Indies has Champions Trophy 2013 in England, a similar short tour to the Caribbean by Pakistan, a triangular One-Day International series featuring India and Sri Lanka, and a late year tour to New Zealand, to look forward to, Zimbabwe will immediately go back to the cricket wilderness!
But what did West Indies learn themselves from this Zimbabwe tour? Much, if they are really critical!
For one, West Indies fast bowling is in relatively bad shape. New blood is very badly needed.
Yes, there has been the re-emergence of Shannon Gabriel, after injury immediately after his first game last year against England at Lords, and lengthy rehabilitation, kept him out of competitive cricket for nearly a year. At least, quite positively, he has youth, style and potential too, to be of further use.
But, as noted previously, Gabriel needs to slim down and become more “loose”. He is way too bulky and much less mobile, on bowling approach and in the field, than he should be. Those can be worked on while playing for Trinidad & Tobago, but his attitude to hard work will tell how far he really will go!
Kemar Roach was a tremendous disappointment overall. No longer does he look like that force present a few years ago. He was way down on pace for the two Tests and had no zip whatsoever from his deliveries. Gibson must make a special effort to retool Roach’s efforts and attitudes and especially pace!
Tino Best has probably run his race. Energy and enthusiasm are great assets, but fast bowling, especially Test fast bowling, requires much more than those. To be fully successful at international level, any fast bowler must be able to use the older ball much more, and severely better, that he could the new one!
Ravi Rampaul has been doing a good job for Trinidad & Tobago, so it is likely he will be recalled for Champion Trophy in June.
That seems to be it. No other fast bowler has lit up the recent horizon either with real pace, steady, effective swing and movement, or persistent accuracy and consistent guile.
Shane Shillingford, with his nineteen cheap wickets against Zimbabwe with off-spin, will have to; deserves; a long, regular run in the team. His great height, if not his ability to extract such bounce and sharp turn, reminds of Chairman of Selectors Clyde Butts! Overall, Shillingford has improved so much!
It is quite plausible that mystery spinner, Sunil Narine, whose Test record is not as impressive as his ODI and T-20 records, could be twinned with Shillingford to provide an unlikely spin combination.
That can even be enhanced with the interesting additional skills of another off-spinner, Marlon Samuels.
Samuels did not get a century v Zimbabwe, but his last year of re-involvement in West Indies cricket, including “Man of the Match” in ICC World T-20 Final, and poise and oozing class at the crease, should see him continue to show that rare talent that has always been present. West Indies needs him badly!
Old heads Shiv Chanderpaul and Chris Gayle showed why they are so revered in world cricket!
They displayed continuing tenacity, still great hunger for runs, getting West Indies only centuries in three innings v Zimbabwe. Younger batsmen could do well to simply observe, trying to emulate them!
While Gayle’s opening partner Kieran Powell showed glimpses of things that could be garnered from his potential, the obvious hear-apparent to Gayle, Powell’s batting inconsistency, and sometimes curse of youth – lack of patience – held him back. He seems blessed with latent ability. It is time to realize same.
Darren Bravo is similar to Powell. He too is the future of West Indies batsmanship, but must be much more mature and patient than he has been. Like Roach in fast bowling, Bravo looked so ordinary that one has also wonder what has happened here. Darren Bravo needs much remedial work; extra pronto!
Denesh Ramdin, returning as wicket-keeper, looked competent without being spectacular. At times, he looked uncomfortable when ‘keeping to Shillingford, extra bounce giving him fits. While his batting will continue to prove useful in the future, Ramdin still has to work diligently on his overall wicket-keeping.
Sammy, as leader, has grown into his role well. Obviously knitting the team together, his all-round skills, especially his late order batting, could continue to be useful.
West Indies was easily better than Zimbabwe. Much harder trials are just on the horizon. Enjoy!