Brandon King SR 130 DB% 48.5

Johnson charles SR 130 DB% 49.5

Based on the stats above, it is implacably clear that Johnson Charles cannot replace Brandon King as the opener.

This in no way makes a case for the retention of Brandon King as opener.He must be expunged.

My choice as a replacement would be Motie as a pinch hitter and Shepherd and Holder batting before Powell.

Powell is extremely inefficient against spin and the Indians will exploit this. The Indians should not attempt to get Powell out but to make him eat dot balls.

But we all know the brains trust of WI are not this strategic in their formulation and implementation of policy.

Chase stays Akeal Hosein comes in for King.

@Courtesy

So if Brandon King & Jonhson Charles can’t face Bumrah & co. Motie will be able to??? What do you think his dot ball percentage will be???

I do agree with the Powell point as his game against spin is weak but did you watch the partnership with him and Hettie against Zimbabwe??? Rotation of strike and targeting match ups will be key!!!

This team has to play at 120% to beat India Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer & Sherfane Rutherford has to score the bulk of the runs tomorrow if we’re to win!!!

@Courtesy

Chase stays Akeal Hosein comes in for King.

I guess both you and Sammy have the same plan for the Indian lefties with Chase in the squad!😂

Hosein, IMO, is a better option opening the bowling with his variations. If he can make early inroads into the Indian batting lineup, Windies are in with a chance!

@WIfan26

@Courtesy

come on champ yuh simply cannot base everything on stats not that I'm rooting fuh Charles to replace King...supposing Charles had a s/r of 160 would you prefer him??

@Courtesy

"Do I tell you my XI? No, I will not. But let me tell you, all my soldiers are ready to take down Goliath tomorrow."

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy

But we all know the brains trust of WI are not this strategic in their formulation and implementation of policy.

The above is not nice

@WIfan26

Well said, some of us are statisticians. if a regular opener or top order batsman cannot handle the best opposition bowlers, how can you expect a no 9, 10 or 11 to handle them.

I know nothing about this T20 version, but my limit knowledge of the past game tells me is ok to think outside the box, however it box cannot be a circle.

@Courtesy

It is too late for experimentation. I suggested Motie opening eons ago and they had a good time to try that in the dead rubber vs Italy. The Sunil Narine move. Trying such a move now reeks of desperation and indecision. We can try that after the WC. After careful consideration I would stay with Brandon King one more time but if he fails and we make the Semis, JC will replace him vs England.

@tc1

It has worked int he past with Sunil Narine. Motie is a better batsman than Narine.

There you have it for the uninitiated:

In cricket, a pinch hitter is a lower-order batter or bowler promoted up the batting order—often during limited-overs powerplays—to maximize scoring, take advantage of fielding restrictions, and accelerate the run rate, typically with little regard for losing their wicket. This strategy aims to utilize a "free hit" mentality to disrupt bowling plans. 

DisCourtesy says: You will not lose a T20 match by promoting a bowler who hardly bats to be a pinch hitter. The idea of if a regular batsman cannot do it how do we expect a bowler to do it..pure gobbledygook.

With England way behing New Zealand in their last match and with 3 overs to go, Baz told Rehan Admed "just bat like Virender Sehwag.". Do you think that Rehan could ever see Vireneder in batting?

Sometimes when the going gets tough, we have to take bold decisions. You cannot stick to the same failing plans and expect different results.

Btw, pace troubles Brandon King...spin troubles Brandon King.

And the worst dot ball percentage of all top batsmen in this T20 World Cup.

I say drop his skunt...I have seen enough.

@Courtesy

Might as well replace King with Samson...thinking way out de box...Indians will not be prepared...shock value

@ray

Initially this was my thinking but imho, at this stage, when Sampson has not been involved, there is greater value in going with Motie.

A Strike rate of 130 overall gives you a total of 156 runs.

But there is a double whammy. Brandon King is eating up the balls that the power batsmen could use to give us a decent score.

The thing is against a champion like Bumrah it is highly unlikely that a pinch hitter like Motie or whoever would survive even an over...nevertheless might be worth a punt ...an if Hosein comes back at the expense of King that would give us 7 bowling options but can't see Sammy doing dat!