“West Indies must fire on all cylinders to progress in CWC 2015!”

Feb 15, 2015 Sports

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Colin E. H. Croft
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 will be long, so intensity could wane, but West Indies must fire from ball one, afterburners maximum, if they are to progress beyond the preliminary stage.
Slated against Ireland tomorrow, Pakistan next Friday, Zimbabwe three days later, South Africa on February 26, India on March 06, United Arab Emirates on March 14, it could be easy to become sluggish as time passes.  WI must not enter that phase!
More than two slip-ups and WI could be out of the tournament.  Intensity, hardest aspect to maintain in such an extensive event, has to continue for the end, coaches needing to inspire their charges well.
WI’s warm-up game v England was a blow-out, leaving WI little time to adjust, just squeaking past Scotland in the final warm-up game.  Teams in “Pool B” will not be as lenient as Scotland.
Ireland will look to embarrass bigger teams, as they did in Jamaica; St. Patrick’s Day 2007; when they beat Pakistan.  With knowledge that they could be demoted from the rungs of the “big boys”, they will come out with purpose and determination.
Ireland have already reacted angrily that they think it unfair for the next CWC to possibly include only the highest ten-rated teams, so they will be scrambling, from the get-go, to make their way into, and to stay, in that top ten.  They will be very dangerous!
Pakistan are similar to WI.  No-one knows which team will show up.  Would it be one that, mercurial as ever, could beat any other team in the world, or one, seemingly demoralized before a single ball is bowled?  Pakistan is always the great unknown!
Zimbabwe, like Ireland, could be scrapping and scrambling for a position at that top-ten table, so they would be as venomous as mambas, having beaten 1996 World Cup champions, Sri Lanka, by that eight-wicket margin in a recent warm-up game.
India are defending 2011 CWC Champions.  They will not go down without great fights, even if they have had a humbling tour of Australia recently.  They are already acclimatized and could finally find their right focus and natural abilities coming to the fore.
South Africa, like India, have got much talent available.  With expectations higher in 2015 than in 1999, when they should have won, SA will come out like a combination of their “Big Five” animals; ferocious, snarling and biting; mauling any team that gets into their way!
United Arab Emirates are the dark horse, possible spoilers, in this group.  Made up of semi-professionals who have honed their cricket skills under difficult situations, expect them to be hardened, not just lying down to be butchered, but to fight on unencumbered, regardless.
The team that WI puts out for that first game on Monday v Ireland could be interesting, knowing that they will be traversing the Tasman Sea regularly, commuting from New Zealand to Australia as they complete their initial six-game assignment in the preliminary stages of CWC 2015.
Chris Gayle, with his great experiences, must fire immediately and regularly, if his team is to do well.  His last several innings have been poor, averaging below 20 for the games last played.  He has to explode out of that cocoon for this his last hurrah at any CWC.
Dwayne Smith could be volatile, but his consistency needs harnessing, longevity at the crease necessary, not only encouraged, but, right now, dictated and demanded by team coaches.  One of the openers must bat to the end!
Lendl Simmons has been stroking well, even with suggestions that he should open instead of Gayle.  If Gayle, Simmons and Smith are included in WI’s final XI, Simmons should bat in the middle order, fully understanding his roll to carry the lower order to the end of 50 overs.
Darren Bravo looked poor in NAGICO-50 last month, but seemingly has caught himself somewhat in CWC 2015 warm-up games.  Much depends on him, perhaps the best batsman in the team, to bat through innings, especially if he gets in early.
Marlon Samuels has gone off the boil at the wrong time.  He has to strive diligently to rekindle the fireworks, from last year and in SA this year, to contribute very positively to his team’s efforts.
Denesh Ramdin could be batting too early at No. 5, but WI does not have many luxuries, or capable personnel, with which to replace him there.  How Ramdin bats in CWC 2015 could be a good barometer as to how WI will go, as wicket-keepers could control teams with their inputs.
WI’s bowling would be based on mostly pace, with Kemar Roach heading the pack, hoping his fitness holds, while Jerome Taylor, like Gayle, will not play in another CWC.  Taylor’s last effort, for at least six games, must be as speedy as possible, especially on those bouncy pitches.
Suleiman Benn or Nikita Miller and all-rounders Andre Russell and Darren Sammy present good lower order batting, but it is on their bowling, with Sheldon Cottrell’s, that games will turn.
WI must tough it all out, win four of six games, and a quarter final berth will be theirs.  Enjoy!

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