I watched my first cricket match of 2026 today and saw WI suffer a battering. So it is with he 20/20

cricket.

The fortune for me was that able to see having suffered a stroke in my left eye on the day the

Eagles lost their NFL game but the result was that I spent 3 days in what is still perhaps the World's Best hospital Wills Eye which is part of Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, the first hospital late 19th century that prioritized extensive study,treatment of the Total Head .

My vision, helped quite a varied lot of medication including steroid is improving beautifully and the blackness and distortions are slowly disappearing.

Anyway it is about cricket and not me.

What happened today will probably not be repeated when the Real WC starts...for one thing all teams will help each by exposing one another and it will be up to those in charge to be nuanced and use the available resources well .

The bowling was exposed and it has to improve. But I was encouraged by the top 6 in the batting order. It just means that aiming for 200 runs will have to become a minimal target.They can.

They have the ability and always wanted to see Hetty at three and Powell and Holder should not bat any lower than 6. Holder would be my preferred no 5 as strategically I always like a left=right combination at the wicket with a Tall Man being one.

Up front the Class of the batting ,the Captain Shai must be prepared to bat 18-20 overs and as is coming common teams especially on batting strips are going gung ho from the outset so the usual mindset of having power hitters down low in the order must be reconsidered. Your best batters must face the most balls

Anyhow the loss hurt because it was brutal...but when it is done by high quality player you have

to bear it and not despair .

Raise your thinking,awareness and always improve your strike rotation at every point of the innings..

I have long since ceased being a big fan of what is WI cricket and what it has become, and I have not watched or followed avidly for years. But I still do think the players/region with all it's negatives can do wonderfully...although I do not see them winning. the title....there are just too many shortcomings in vital areas.

But Good luck Sammy ,Shai and team

@hubert

@hubert

hey man, glad to see you recovering. fair comments

@hubert

Man I’m just glad to see you back.Hugs😀

recover well welcome back, Not a bad assessment, lets hope Sammy can get the combination right, and correct batting as well which is key to the momentum

@hubert

Speedy recovery Sir

@hubert

Nice to see you back. Wish you a speedy and healthy recovery.

Excellent post. To add that these conditions are nothing to what we should expect in the WC where spinners will come more into play.

@hubert

Sorry to hear about your ailment and really happy you were able to overcome and be back in the community.

Wishing for full recovery for you and please don’t rush anything.

Respeck all the time.

@hubert

Get well soon! Just learned that Cliff Hughes suffered a stroke and is hospitalized!!

@hubert

Wishing you a speedy recovery Maas Hubie.

@hubert

Happy to see you sir Hubie, did miss you and wondered. Hope your recovery will be complete

Cheers

@methodic,Chrissy,Jackssparrow,WI_cricfan,Voiceof reason,Imusic,ADFIX,CWW

Appreciate your love and concern as only Regional brethren can express..Heeding the advice

given and hopefully my recovery will progress well and WI cricket too..

Won't be posting much but will glimpse ...

Sad about Cliff Hughes...wonderful man..hope he will remain with us for a while...the back to back loss of Cat Coore and Sly Dunbar shook me up ,but what a Legacy they left behind...

@hubert

Oh wow. Great to see you. I wish you a speedy recovery!!

I never even knew that one could get a stroke in the eye!!!

@VIX

Did not know this either but once veins,especially a main one takes blood to the area

and is not functioning well...a stroke is inevitable.So it was explained to me. The key is to catch

it and get quick attention within 24 hours.

We are indeed wonderfully made..but delicate.

@hubert

So sorry to hear of your medical issue.

Happy you are recovering well and was able to see the match.

WI batting is capable of 200+ consistently.

The bowling is worrying. Not only are bowlers going for too many runs but they are also not taking wickets.

I would like to see Hosein open the bowling and hope he gets back his wicket taking ability. Lets hope the other bowlers can do the same but I am not confident of this.

@hubert

Get well mature hubert, you are missed.