West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes the reintroduction of top and middle order batsmen Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Alick Athanaze into the maroon’s Test team will help anchor their batting against India’s valued spin attack in the upcoming two-match series, which bowls off in Ahmedabad on October 2.
The duo’s recall was described as vital by the all-formats coach, as he credited their defensive technique and ability to occupy the crease as key in subcontinental conditions.
Sammy confirmed both batsmen were recalled with the expectation that they can bring the kind of grit and technical discipline required to blunt India’s world-class spinners, led by Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav.
“Our opening (batsman) spot has been a bother for us over the last two years,” Sammy said. “Tagenarine, with the role that is required from one of the openers, is a big candidate for that type of role. The ability to bat long periods and score runs, just like Kraigg Brathwaite did for us in the past. Alick brings that skill set in the middle or in the top four, where his technique allows him to play both spin and pace, especially in the conditions.”
As the West Indies cricket team’s batting folded against Nepal on September 27, it was apparent that the batsmen had no idea how to chase a total in T20 cricket. I mean, no idea. It was an average total of 148/8 by the Nepalese batsmen, delivered in the 20-over allocation against a full member International Cricket Council team.
Nepal are ranked 18th in the ICC T20I ratings. Thus, with that target to achieve in order to win the first game of a three-match series, one would think that it would be a cinch. However, especially in the game of cricket, regardless of format, nothing can be taken for granted.
The batting approach was careless and irresponsible, with players seemingly assuming that this target would be easy, that even if a batsman failed, another would easily build on the score. When this happens, by the time the fourth wicket tumbles, the task becomes formidable. While there is always an element of risk that batsmen must take, particularly in the T20 format, batsmen must balance the target with the number of wickets in hand, as well as the thinking required to know when to accelerate and how to combine this with the necessary percentage of risk.
I have seen the best player in this format, Kieron Pollard, play circumspectly, ensuring not to carelessly give away his wicket so that by the time the 15th or 16th over arrives and he has the pace of the wicket, ‘his eye is in’, he then has the right idea of how to accomplish the goal his opponent has set him, conversely, if batting first, the total to achieve to provide a daunting objective for his competitor.
FOR TRINIDADIAN spinner Khary Pierre, the dream that began in his childhood living room, watching West Indies legends like Brian Lara, has finally become a reality.
After a dominant domestic season, the left-arm spinner has received his first call-up to the West Indies Test squad, and for him, the emotion is almost beyond words.
“It’s a great honour, a privilege to represent the West Indies. It’s something I dreamt of when I was young, watching Test cricket. I was really happy. Words can’t explain how I felt at that moment.”
Despite not coming through the youth ranks, Pierre’s hard work and determination over the years are finally bearing fruit.
As fans clad in red and blue danced in the Sharjah aisles, the result was a foregone conclusion: Zishan Morata was the last man out, caught in the deep by Karan KC, and West Indies had been bundled out for 83. Three days ago, Nepal had never played a T20I series against a Full Member nation. Now, they had sealed it 2-0, with one match to spare.
West Indies struggled to move beyond single-digits in the powerplay. Only thanks to a boundary in the sixth over did they reach 16 for 2. By then, Dipendra Singh Airee had scalped the first wicket when he bowled Jewel Andrew (2), while Kushal Bhurtel had taken a stunning catch at cover to send back Keacy Carty (1).
Nepal's vice grip over the scoring rate was the result of their slower balls and full deliveries in the blockhole, with their quicks often marrying the two to great effect. An inexperienced West Indies unit kept mistiming their shots on a pitch where none of their batters, barring Jason Holder's 15-ball 21, played with any degree of comfort. Eight-three all out represents the former T20 World Champions' sixth-lowest total. The 90-run defeat is their joint fourth-biggest by runs.
Medium pacer Mohammad Aadil Alam - who ended with figures of 4 for 24 - was the next bowler to get on the scorecard, thanks to the biggest point of difference between the two sides: Nepal's fielding. Nineteen-year-old Gulsan Jha's diving catch at sweeper cover in the eighth over bettered their previous effort, and sent Kyle Mayers back after a sluggish 6 off 16 balls.
Alzarri Joseph has been ruled out of West Indies' two-match Test series against India starting this week due to a lower-back injury. Joseph complained of discomfort, and scans revealed "a degeneration of the previously resolved lower-back injury".
According to a CWI release on Monday, Jason Holder, who is currently with the T20I side for a three-match series against Nepal in the UAE, declined to be Joseph's replacement citing a planned medical procedure.
So West Indies have called up left-arm seamer Jediah Blades to replace Joseph. Blades, 23, is also in the UAE and will join the Test squad after the third T20I on Tuesday.
Blades is uncapped in Test cricket but has played three ODIs and four T20Is so far. In 13 first-class games, he has picked up 35 wickets at an average of 35.91.
