The recently completed respective ODI and T20 series against India have both provided some very encouraging signs for the immediate future of West Indies white-ball cricket. West Indies lost the three-match ODI series against their higher ICC-ranked visitors 1-2, but rebounded to capture the T20I encounters 3-2.
Overwhelming disappointment was felt throughout the entire Caribbean after the West Indies ’failure to qualify for both this year’s forthcoming ODI World Cup as well as last year’s T20I edition of the ICC’s marquee tournament. As such the West Indies’ somewhat competitive ODI performance against the Indians, followed as it was by their eventual T20I series triumph, would have restored some measure of regional pride and put smiles back on the faces of many Caribbean cricket fans.
More importantly, both series have now provided the West Indies’ white-ball cricket management team with some very useful intelligence pointers in terms of their preparation for the next ICC World Cups in each of the ODI and T20I formats. Having missed out on qualification for the India-hosted ODI World Cup to be staged this coming October-November 2023, the West Indies’ next participation at that level won’t be until another four years time in 2027. The luxury of having that much time to prepare won’t be the same for the next T20I World Cup, however, as the West Indies along with the USA will be co-hosting the tournament’s 2024 edition next June.
Four years to prepare and the benefit of highly tangible evidence provided by performances in the recently completed India series. That combination of factors should allow the West Indies ODI management group, comprised of Selectors Desmond Haynes, Roland Butcher, Head Coach Daren Sammy, his Assistants Carl Hooper, and Floyd Reifer as well as the team’s captain Shai Hope, to pull together a training squad of at least twenty-players which between now and 2027 can eventually be whittled down to the fifteen-member squad that will don maroon colors at the next World Cup.
The said management group will also have the benefit of immediately pencilling in the names of the undroppables, all of whom barring unforeseen injuries and unexpected irreversible loss of form, should already now be shoo-ins for 2027 World Cup squad inclusion. In addition to skipper Shai Hope, that list would surely include the likes of Brandon King, Alick Athanaze, Nicholas Pooran, Keacy Carty, Shimron Hetmeyer, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Oshane Thomas, and Obed McCoy.
That’s already fourteen of the suggested twenty-member training squad with at least two others, Kemo Paul and Dominic Drakes, with very strong credentials for inclusion. Should Erin Lewis once again also restore his interest in representing the West Indies, then he too should be eligible for automatic inclusion. Only three eligible spots would, therefore, remain one of which would be for a right-arm wrist spinner.
While having provided the West Indies’ Think-Tank with evidence for all those whose inclusion in the twenty-member training squad is merited, the India series has also, conversely, provided sufficient cause for the near-permanent exclusion of others. Foremost among those would be Kyle Mayers, Rovman Powell, and arguably even Yannic Cariah.
Both Mayers and Powell have by now provided sufficient evidence of their respective unsuitability and unreliability as ODI players. Cariah has similarly proven to be far too predictable and significantly lacking in the variety required for any wrist spinner to be consistently wicket-taking productive, even economical, against top-class batsmen. Continuing any longer with those three would, therefore, most likely prove to be an exercise in futility if not insanity!
This year’s forthcoming Regional Super50 tournament should provide the West Indies Think Tank with further evidence of others whose inclusion to the 2027 World Cup training squad would also be merited. As early as this coming December, the West Indies will also be hosting the ICC top-three ranked England for an ODI series that will certainly provide a further gauge as to exactly where they stand in terms of their competitiveness against top-ranked teams.
The forthcoming England Caribbean tour will also include T20I matches. A series that should provide further opportunities for the West Indies to hone its preparations for hosting the format’s ICC World Cup next year. The recent 3-2 triumph against India should have instilled in the West Indies team the belief that when they play individually and collectively to the very best of their God-given talents, they can be victorious against any of the format’s other participating teams.
The recent India T20I series has also provided Lead Selector, Desmond Haynes, Head Coach Darren Sammy and team captain Rovman Powell with clearly indicative suggestions as to what their ideal final playing XI should be. In terms of both the best possible batting and bowling combinations.
In terms of the batting, Brandon King, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Shimron Hetmeyer and Powell himself, now constitute a unit that should be fully capable of posting formidable first-strike scores, or conversely successfully chasing posted opposition totals. The exact order of the lineup might have to be tweaked or left open to some degree of flexibility, dependent upon the encountered batting conditions or match situation, but overall, those five should now comprise the core of the West Indies’ T20I batting for next year’s World Cup.
The question as to who should ideally be partnering Brandon King at the top of the order is, however, still very much undecided and as such subject to considerable debate and discussion. If Erin Lewis can again be convinced to return to the West Indies’ fold he would be the ideal choice to fill that role. Based on his overall record of consistent white-ball performances to date, consideration may also be given to having Shai Hope fill that spot. Either way, there is clearly one remaining spot in the batting lineup requiring to be filled.
In terms of the bowling, Alzarri Joseph, Jason Holder, and Romario Shepherd have now firmly established themselves as the three front-line seamers. Add to those Akeal Hosein’s proven effective left-arm spin and four of the five required bowlers have clearly been identified. The question as to the identity of the sixth bowler is, however, much like the batting, similarly open for discussion, debate and, decision-making.
During the India series the West Indies utilized Karl Mayers’ medium pace, Roston Chase’s off-spin, and Odean Smith’s seam among their tried bowling options. Of those Chase was by far the most impressive. Sufficiently to have strengthened his case for World Cup squad inclusion, and impressively in defiance of the many critics who had questioned his inclusion to the squad for the India series. Chase’s performances against India would also have been particularly satisfying for West Indies’ Lead Selector Desmond Haynes who had been subject to all levels of public criticism for his inclusion.
Crucial preparations times ahead, therefore, for the West Indies in both white-ball cricket formats. That of next year’s T20I hosted World Cup, admittedly far more urgent than those required for the ODI marquee which won’t be until 2027. Sufficient time, however, for the West Indies to capitalize on the information provided from the recently concluded India series to construct teams that should ultimately prove to be capable of providing consistent performances that will be an improvement on the failure to qualify for either the previous T20I or forthcoming ODI World Cups!