2014 World T20 Preview: West Indies

Here in this article we preview the West Indies Team’s chances in the 2014 World T20.

In 2012, West Indies not only won the World T20, but also won it in style. They seemed to enjoy each other’s company, complimented each other well and thrashed each and every team that came across them. What made their victory so special is the way the players celebrated. It is their first World Cup trophy after 33 years with their last World Cup was a sixty over tournament in 1979. 2014 ICC World Twenty20 is just a week away and the men from Caribbean will look to conquer the World once again. They go into the tournament as favourites and here is an analysis of the West Indian team for the tournament.

Squad:

Captain: Darren Sammy

Coach: Ottis Gibson

Batsmen:

•          Chris Gayle
•          Lendl Simmons
•          Marlon Samuels

 

Bowlers:

•          Ravi Rampaul
•          Samuel Badree
•          Sunil Narine
•          Krishmar Santokie
•          Sheldon Cottrell

All-Rounders:

•          Dwayne Smith
•          Darren Sammy
•          Andre Russell
•          Dwayne Bravo

Wicket Keepers:

•          Denesh Ramdin
•          Andre Fletcher
•          Jonson Charles

Even before the tournament began, the West Indian team received a major blow as their star All-Rounder Kieron Pollard was ruled out of the tournament due to a knee injury. But his absence won’t hurt the defending champions a lot because the West Indians have enough bench strength to replace the big man from Trinidad and Tobago. Nothing is more dangerous than Chris Gayle in a T20 match as the Jamaican has the ability to tear apart any bowling attack in the world. Few overs of Gayle will help West Indies to reach a good score. His opening partner Dwayne Smith is tailor made for T20’s and he can send the ball into the orbit with ease. Then they got Marlon Samuels who played a match winning innings in the 2012 final takes his time before teeing off. Then comes the flurry of big hitting all-rounders in Dwayne Bravo, Darren Sammy and Andre Russell. The trio can score some quick runs towards the end of the innings. In case of a top order failure, Lendl Simmons will be promoted up the order to do the repair works. As far as the bowling is concerned, they have only one frontline pacer Ravi Rampaul and he will share the new ball with leg spinner Samuel Badree, the most economical T20 bowler with a economy of just 5.10. After piling pressure on the opposition batsmen, West Indies will unleash their deadly weapon Sunil Narine. He is very hard to score against and will complete his quota of overs with a low economy. Bravo, Sammy and Russell will complete the remaining overs. The blessing in disguise for the defending champions is that everyone in the playing XI with the exception of wicket keeper Denesh Ramdin can roll their arm over and are more than useful part-timers.

Possible Playing XI:  Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Marlon Samuels, Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine, Ravi Rampaul.

Schedule:

Date	Against	Venue
23-3-2014	India	Mirpur
28-3-2014	Qualifier	Mirpur
30-3-2014	Australia	Mirpur
1-4-2014	Pakistan	Mirpur
3-4-2014 & 4-4-2014	Semi-Finals	Mirpur
6-4-2014	Finals	Mirpur