The West Indies’ recent triumphant 3-2 T20 series victory over visiting India was greeted with resounding joy throughout the Caribbean and even further beyond to the diaspora as well. The long-awaited series triumph, over as exalted and much higher ICC-ranked opponent as India, has also created hopes of the West Indies emerging as champions when the 2024 T20 World Cup is jointly staged in the Caribbean and USA next June.
The fulfillment of any such lofty ambition must, however, be prefaced by the implementation and near-flawless execution of a meticulously crafted five-point strategic plan. The identifiable components of which would be a) the selection of the very best available fifteen-member squad, as well as the match-by-match strategic deployment of the most suitable final playing XI dependent upon the opponents to be faced and prevailing playing conditions; b) the development of specific strategies to be executed at various stages of matches being played by both the team’s batters and bowlers; c) the chosen squad’s engagement in a four-week army-type Boot Camp a few weeks before the start of the tournament; d) the preparation of wickets that would allow the West Indies team to play its matches on surfaces that are ideally suited to its batting and bowling strengths and finally e) for all West Indies matches to be played in front of massively supportive home crowd spectators.
With less than a year to go before the 2024 T20 World Cup officially gets underway next June, the Selectors, including Head Coach Daren Sammy, should by now have a fairly good idea as to the likely composition of the West Indies 15-member World Cup squad. Barring injury or unforeseen unavailability captain Rovman Powell will most likely be joined by Brandon King, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmeyer, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph and Obed McCoy. That’s arguably eleven undroppables of the required fifteen-member squad with the remaining four spots still open for would-be contenders to state their claims for inclusion.
With the fifteen-member squad having been selected, the very next requirement will be for the Daren Sammy-headed coaching staff and captain Powell to develop the types of plans and strategies for the West Indies to deploy against their respective opponents. The successful execution of which would be geared towards their on-field triumphs. These will include choices of personnel for the final playing XI as well as the identification of specified roles for each chosen player. Who will best partner Brandon King at the top of the batting order should be one of the primary questions to be asked and answered. So too would be the choice for the ultra-important number three spot.
In terms of the overall planning, decisions will also have to be made about the West Indies adopted approach at various stages of their batting innings. Such key stages would include the initial 1-6 power play, the 7-14 middle phase, as well as the 15-20 death overs. Which batters should ideally be at the crease during each of those phases? What should be the decided approach between aggression and wicket-loss avoidance conservatism?
Conversely, when the West Indies are in the field similar questions as to which bowlers should be used at various stages of the opponent’s innings will also prevail. Which two bowlers will open the attack, which combinations should be best used in the middle overs and even more importantly at the death?
England are set to tour the West Indies for white ball matches this coming December. Three T20 matches are also included on the schedule for next year’s January 16 – February 13 visit Down Under to Australia. The West Indies will, therefore, have several near-perfect dress rehearsal opportunities to sample the effectiveness of their final XI compositions and match-winning plans. By the end of the Australian tour, therefore, all the kinks should have been well ironed out with the team functioning at peak efficiency, firing fully on all cylinders like a well-oiled machine.
Towards the achievement of its optimum efficiency, however, the squad will also be required to acquire maximum fitness. A pre-tournament military-styled boot camp to be held sometime during the three March-May months before the World Cup’s June commencement should, therefore, become a key component of the overall Win’24 Strategic Plan.
The primary objectives of the camp would be for the squad to spend time bonding and gelling as a cohesive unit. The camp would also be geared towards allowing every squad member to achieve their optimum fitness levels. By the time the camp is over the team should also have become impressively athletic in their ground fielding, deadly accurate in their throwing, and superbly competent in catching. When and if the suggested camp takes place may, however, be wholly dependent upon how many members of the chosen squad are also involved in next year’s Indian Premier League.
Component number four of the Win’24 Strategic Plan will involve the West Indies Selectors and Head Coach Daren Sammy engaged in consultations and conversations with the curators for the respective tournament venues to ensure that the team plays all its matches on pitches that are most suitable to its batting and bowling strengths. The West Indies batters will want to have pitches where deliveries come through consistently at good heights and pace that will allow them full freedom to play their attacking shots. Similarly, the bowlers especially the seamers will want to be operating on tracks offering good carry with some degree of sideways movement also available. The spinners in turn will be hoping for tracks that will provide bounce and grip.
Win’24’s developed Strategic Plan’s fifth and final component must be for the West Indies team to be playing every one of its World Cup matches, hopefully from the opening day right through to the final, in front of stadiums packed with full capacity crowds comprised of at least 75-80% of its supporters. Said supporters should also be clad in maroon and yellow shirts developed by Cricket West Indies (CWI) specifically for the World Cup and sold to registered team fans at a significantly discounted and universally affordable price.
CWI should indeed consider appointing a Caribbean-born individual outside of its current administrative structure to oversee all aspects of the 2024 World Cup “Windies RallyRousers” fan development and tournament participation. The tourism ministries and boards of the respective hosting venues should also be invited to be fully involved, as a means of ensuring that as many diaspora-based Caribbean cricket fans, particularly those close by in Canada and the USA, are encouraged to “cum back home fuh de cricket!”
A very wise individual once suggested a very long time ago that the longest journey begins with a single step. The journey towards the West Indies once becoming T20 World Cup champions, for an unprecedented third time and ideally on home soil, is certainly one worth taking. Indeed, by everyone currently involved in or associated with West Indies cricket. As such the development and implementation of any strategic plan such as that suggested herein as part of that journey and towards the realization of its ultimate objective West Indies 2024 T20 World Cup Championship glory should now be equally worth pursuing.