Some may recall that on March 7, I picked my West Indies World Cup squad and of the 15 I predicted, 13 have made the final team for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
The only two names in the squad I did not predict are Fabien Allen and Carlos Brathwaite. Certainly, Allen can consider himself lucky simply because a fit Sunil Narine would have gone to the World Cup as our No 1 spinner. John Campbell is the other player I selected that did not make the cut. Instead, the selectors have opted for the all-rounder in Brathwaite.
Brathwaite must have been saying his prayers twice a day. I think he is extremely fortunate to be in the squad. It is obvious his selection was based on his performances and leadership with the CCC (Combined Campuses & Colleges) who won the regional Super-50 Tournament last year. I also believe the selectors have opted for him as cover for Andre Russell who of late has been suffering from niggling injuries. I don’t expect Brathwaite to even feature in the final 11 unless we are through the opening round and the selectors opt to rest a couple of players.
I would have instead gone for Campbell, the Jamaican opener, simply as a cover for Chris Gayle and for his ability to bowl a deceptive off-break if things are not going according to plan while we are fielding. The selectors need to remember that the World Cup is a physically demanding tournament and I would be surprised if Gayle plays in all the games.
To reach the final, we need to play 11 games. Is the 39-year-old body of the "Universe Boss" capable of performing at optimum capacity for all of these games? It will be a tough task hence my rationale for another specialist opener in the squad.
Campbell is still coming to terms with international cricket and it would have been a great opportunity for him to be with the squad and learning from Gayle as to what makes the big man tick. How does he then prepare for games? In leaving Campbell out, it means that should any of the openers get injured or fall ill, we will have to use a makeshift opener; possibly in the form of Shai Hope, something that I will not want to see. Hope is a talented player who is best-suited batting at No 3.
The selectors I thought might have also gone for Shane Dowrich based on his selection for the Tri-series versus Ireland and Bangladesh. Hope is going to be asked to do the duties behind the stumps and although he seems capable, this department of the game will have to be carefully scrutinised going forward as a specialist keeper is worth their weight in gold. However, I also had Hope in my team to keep wicket so let us hope (no pun intended) he does a good job behind the stumps and gets the help he needs to be successful in the World Cup.
The fast bowlers have picked themselves based on their performances over the last nine months, particularly against England. Gabriel and Roach, once they stay fit, will be a handful on the English pitches. Gabriel seems to be getting stronger and faster with every passing month and I look forward to seeing him in England.
Roach, on the other hand, will swing the ball in the helpful conditions and once his rhythm is good, he will get wickets. Sheldon Cottrell is unique; his left arm swing will give the batsmen something different to think about; his determination to succeed is second to none and he will give 150 per cent when he has the ball in his hand.
Oshane Thomas is pure pace; he is as raw as they come and I expect this World Cup will be a great experience for him. Once he can control his line and length, he is one for the future as he will only get better with time.
Without Narine, our spinning options may be the weakest area of our team as both Allen and Ashley Nurse are not big turners of the ball so they will have to vary their deliveries to be successful - line and length, changes of pace and deception through the air to get wickets. It is going to be a challenge but I don’t see both of them playing in the same game unless the pitch appears to be a spinning pitch or the ground has a history for being a spinner’s paradise.
The batsmen, Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Nicholas Pooran, are three of the most exciting batsmen in world cricket. This is Bravo’s opportunity to shine on the big stage; enough talk from him, it’s time for him to let the bat do the talking. Hetmyer has struggled in the IPL (Indian Premier League) but I expect him to come good wearing the maroon colours. Pooran, on his day, will devastate any bowler and he will also act as back-up keeper.
Gayle and Lewis at the top of the order can destroy any bowling attack so let us hope they click and stay injury free for the tournament. Holder and Russell are arguably the top all-rounders in world cricket of late.
Can we win it? We certainly aren’t favourites but we should be in a position to give a good account of ourselves on the world stage. Our first group stage match against Pakistan is just 36 days away! Exciting times are ahead!
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this column are solely those of the writer and do not reflect the views of any organisation of which he is a stakeholder.