As Sidharth Monga argued persuasively (in an ESPN article}, "a batsman trying to fight off a tough period hurts his team terribly in a short 20-over innings. Much better to take chances. If the runs come off the middle or off the edge, like they did for Suresh Raina in the World T20 semi-final against South Africa, it's all good. Players who take a few balls to get going are a liability compared to players who are willing to take chances from the word go."

Proposed solution: West Indies can mitigate against this by allowing the newbie Sampson to open with Hope.

You cannot have 2 batsmen at the opening slot behaving like diesel engines, who only reach full power after getting hot.

In the Super 8 stage we will be giving up way too much advantage in the opening position particularly when batting first.

In the Super 8 stage and generally in T20 game, every bit of advantage counts.

@Courtesy

i think we need to move king down the order, use him more as a floater, like chase.

we have too many big hitters at the back end, and not everyone gets to bat. One of them could be pushed up the order to open

if they come off, great. We can maximize the powerplay. If they get out, so be it, chances are they wouldn’t have got a chance to bat anyway

Btw, batting Chase when we lose 2 early wickets is also counterproductive. Chase must only come out to bat when you have used all your power hitting resources.

No other Super 8 team will use this strategy or has used this strategy in this tournament and for very obvious reasons. You must be prepared to lose attempting to maximize your resources everytime. It is the preferred strategy.

Sammy must now think without a box.

@brians_da_best

My post above argues against your proposed approach of bringing King down the order.

......................

Btw, at this stage, we can strengthen the side by dropping Joseph and replacing him with Ford when Shepherd comes back..

@Courtesy

Blah Blah Blah! as usual an empty vessel making the most noise.

@Courtesy

wtf am i hearing!!....drop the only bowler with pace to replace him with runs truck Shep on the basis that he can biff couple sixes at end of the inns IF he gets in....Shep on ave more likely to concede more runs with the ball than he makes with the bat....nonsensical thinking champ ....its either Shep or Forde fuh 1 spot....maybe Shep hatrick against Scotland get yuh giddy!!😀.....as fuh Sampson opening instead of King ...I'm speechless!!

@Courtesy

@WI_cricfan

@CCW

@brians_da_best

y'all eyes pass Shemar ... he is the 100% x factor guy ... would have have one off days ... but having on the bench is not playing your best 11.

@Courtesy

The suggestion has merit in the context of the T20 cricket.

But cricket is a funny game as we hear and can attest ...

Back in the day late 60s in one of the many club one day competitions in Jamaica played on a Sunday ,the Hamilton Cup, a club started so well winning its first four matches and the No4 batsman only getting a

short knock as they beat up on all opposition up to then.

Even a namesake,Gray,no elation had chalked up two tons..The Club got some newspaper write ups to highlight their achievements.

Then the complaint came from within that others need to get a bat.

Came game five, a little rain fell in Kingston and the powerhouse was put into bat on a damp pitch.

Everybody batted...all out 18.

They disintegrated and ended up in the lower half of Table at season's end.

Club never lasted much after that.😁

Cricket they say mirrors life..perhaps life mirrors cricket too.

@Courtesy

I agree with your points and would add that you do not want both batsmen to be going at 120-130. One should at least be striking 150+. I would however disagree on Sampson, instead we have a lot of batting depth, some players who do not get a bat in most occasions, why not let Motie a leftie open with King and Hope can come 4 down after Hety. Not sure about Samson and pace but give him a run vs Italy let us see our options.

India's s/r in the PP today was 52/1 so that means it will get tougher in the Super 8 and beyond. I just think Hope/King are two of the same around 130 s/r career wise.

@CCW

If you call one a runs truck, them you can call the other the same, because as you can see, statistically, not much separates them in their T20 bowling. Now if they have to bat, hmmm🤔

Format Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR

Shepherd: T20Is 76 70 1306 2167 81 5/20 5/20 26.75 9.95 16.1

Joseph: T20Is 18 18 372 572 20 3/30 3/30 28.60 9.22 18.6

@Courtesy

I wouldn't be too eager to tinker with the batting order. Both Hope and King are guys who can score with traditional cricket shots, which can get runs off good deliveries..

My problem is the bowling... I would keep Ford and sit Sheppie for the rest of the tournament. Ford exudes confidence and can contribute with both bat and ball.

A good captain can manage Shamar. He needs protection. Bring him on after the power-play. Overs 7-9-11-13, thereabouts.

Have him pitch it up on the stumps, always, no short balls, no bouncers. Give him a Long On, Long Off, and a Deep Third. And his pace will pay dividends.

@hubert

Yup, that's the game of cricket, very subtle...

promote a middle order batter to open the innings, and watch him shit his pants facing a shiny new ball that seams and swings, and comes off the pitch a little faster than the older ball which he is accustomed to..

I will leave King and Hope right where they are.

@Bamboocane

unfair comparison considering their relative experiences....Shamar still learning an is only the one with pace don't be fooled by thinking cos Shep can biff couple 6's at the end of the inns he's a better option he's more likely to concede more runs bowling than he makes batting if he bowls his 4 overs which usually he's not trusted to do ....almost certainly the team that BOWLS the best will win the🏆!!

@hubert

I understand the vagaries of cricket...the best planned situations in a minority of situations may go wrong.

T20 cricket is about matchups which are mainly data driven. Fundamentally, the gamet is about maximizing your resources, risk taking and risk mgt.

The good sides look to put pressure on their opponents from ball one.