Remember Fire in Babylon, the documentary on the glory years of West Indian cricket? The current state of cricket in the Caribbean lends itself to a sequel. There’s another fire and this time it could burn a lot down.
There’s a strange feeling around the current West Indies side. One can’t help but feel that the team will touch its nadir at the World Cup. For a side that has plumbed new depths in the past decade or so, it would take a failure of unprecedented proportions for that to happen.
Sadly, such a development looks likely. A thoroughly inexperienced captain, two of the best ODI players out of the side, the team’s best bowler missing and a reportedly fractious dressing room provide the perfect recipe for turmoil. A loss to Ireland in the opening game could shatter whatever confidence the West Indians have.
This is a crisis, largely, of its own making. Ever since the West Indies pulled out of the tour of India, it was clear that the issue will have a bearing on the side’s World Cup prospects. The question of the final compensation to the BCCI aside, it brought to the fore a divided team. After the West Indies had abandoned the tour, current vice-captain Marlon Samuels publicly spoke against the decision to leave India midway through the series.
The casualties, however, were the then ODI skipper Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard. While the selectors have always maintained that there was no axe to grind, and it was a decision taken solely on the basis of performance, the timing of the move raised eyebrows.
The selectors’ claim that they wanted more young players in the team was not backed up by facts either. No less than eight members of the squad will be 30 or above by the time the West Indies starts its campaign.
The Irish are notoriously doughty in face of tougher opposition and the fact remains that the present bunch of Caribbean cricketers aren’t very tough at all. It will not take a lot to dislodge them from their not-so-high pedestal. But, as Viv Richards hoped in his recent column, there’s the hope that crisis will bring the side together. The unity, sadly, seems imagined at the moment.
However, these are a bunch of cricketers who are prone to occasional exuberance. Top teams like India and South Africa will be disappointed if they don’t beat the West Indies every time they meet; at the same time, they will be wary of the mercurial talents in the Caribbean side.
The likes of Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Darren Sammy can often make the difference between winning and losing. Their seemingly carefree approach to the game can be frustrating and liberating in equal measure.
The successful campaign in the 2012 World T20 in Sri Lanka could serve as a guiding light for the West Indies. It’s the only collective memory of major success for a side that lacks experience. Only four among the current 15 have played more then 100 ODIs.
The bowling, in particular, has suffered a big hit due to the omissions. The bowlers who had taken 52 per cent of West Indies’ ODI wickets since 2013 have not found a place in the squad, or missed out owing to other reasons the way Sunil Narine has.
The mystery spinner chose to not appear on cricket’s biggest stage as he didn’t feel comfortable about his remodelled action. Narine’s threat is irreplaceable, like so many gaps in the other areas.
With enough gaping holes already, West Indies can’t afford more. Another perforation or two would demolish its World Cup campaign.
SWOT analysis
Strengths: Explosive batsmen and the general air of unpredictability around the side. The ability to score runs at a quick rate can stultify any opposition. If Chris Gayle gets going, he can provide a strong impetus to the innings. While chasing, West Indies will have the benefit from the calm, big-hitters like Andre Russell and Darren Sammy.
The bowlers are also aggressive -- always looking out for wickets than on containing the opposition. The quicker ones will be an asset in Australia as they bowl at high speeds, a quality not many sides possess. The likes of Kemar Roach can run through line-ups.
Weaknesses: The unpredictability can be a major weakness too, as one can never say which West Indies side will turn up. Not just on the field, the Caribbean cricketers can find ways to shoot themselves in the foot outside the arena too.
For all his explosive displays in T20 cricket, Gayle’s ODI average in the last 25 months is just 18.7.
Overall, the West Indies has consistently failed to beat any of the top sides. The bowling unit is highly inexperienced as only Jerome Taylor has taken 100-plus wickets in 50-over cricket among the frontline bowlers. The absence of Narine is a major blow.
Opportunities: West Indies’ first three fixtures will be against Ireland, Pakistan and Zimbabwe. If it can win those matches in an impressive manner, the momentum could help the side aim for bigger scalps.
Most of the West Indies squad is suited to the demands of 50-over cricket. If the individual capabilities can be strung together, there is a possibility of a deep run into the competition.
India and Pakistan are themselves not in the best form right now. If both are defeated, West Indies could have an easier quarterfinal opponent.
Threats: West Indies. Last year’s pay dispute in India was an unedifying episode. Sadly, a bout of controversy never seems away from the Caribbeans. There have been reports on possible factions within the squad; there’s a genuine risk that a young captain like Jason Holder may have too much on his plate.
On the field, Ireland lurks dangerously. A tournament opener against a team that has upset Pakistan and England in the last two World Cups will not be the most appetising start. If West Indies begins with a loss, a group stage exit can’t be ruled out. The slide may start early.
Squad list
Jason Holder (captain)
Style: RA medium
Age: 23
Matches: 26
Runs: 162
Average: 14.72
Wickets: 37
Average: 30.21
Win-loss: 1-4
Marlon Samuels
Style: RH batsman
Age: 33
Matches: 167
Runs: 4401
Average: 33.09
Wickets: 82
Average: 45.37
Sulieman Benn
Style: LA spin
Age: 33
Matches: 31
Runs: 128
Average: 8.53
Wickets: 32
Average: 35.87
Darren Bravo
Style: LH batsman
Age: 25
Matches: 79
Runs: 2171
Average: 32.40
Wickets: 0
Average: NA
Jonathan Carter
Style: LH batsman
Age: 27
Matches: 5
Runs: 80
Average: 16
Wickets: 0
Average: NA
Sheldon Cottrell
Style: LA medium
Age: 25
Matches: 2
Runs: 3
Average: NA
Wickets: 2
Average: 53.50
Chris Gayle
Style: LH batsman
Age: 35
Matches: 263
Runs: 8881
Average: 36.85
Wickets: 158
Average: 35.70
Nikita Miller
Style: LA spin
Age: 32
Matches: 45
Runs: 264
Average: 18.85
Wickets: 40
Average: 36.52
Denesh Ramdin
Style: WK
Age: 29
Matches: 120
Runs: 1804
Average: 25.05
Catches: 154
Stumpings: 6
Kemar Roach
Style: RA fast
Age: 26
Matches: 64
Runs: 216
Average: 13.50
Wickets: 98
Average: 26.85
Andre Russell
Style: RH bat and RA fast
Age: 26
Matches: 43
Runs: 840
Average: 28.96
Wickets: 53
Average: 32.16
Darren Sammy
Style: RH batsman and RA medium
Age: 31
Matches: 119
Runs: 1694
Average: 24.20
Wickets: 80
Average: 45.98
Lendl Simmons
Style: RH batsman
Age: 30
Matches: 61
Runs: 1785
Average: 31.31
Wickets: 1
Average: 160
Dwayne Smith
Style: RH batsman
Age: 31
Matches: 99
Runs: 1467
Average: 18.80
Wickets: 60
Average: 37.63
Jerome Taylor
Style: RA fast
Age: 30
Matches: 72
Runs: 217
Average: 8.03
Wickets: 106
Average: 28.14
Coach: Stuart Williams earned his spurs as a swashbuckling batsman, but it was that cavalier approach that cut short his international career too. He was appointed ‘coaching coordinator’ after the sacking of Ottis Gibson in August last year. Since then, Williams has overseen the pull-out from the tour of India and the appointment of Holder as ODI captain.
Starwatch
Since 2013, no West Indies batsman has a better average than Samuels (45). In fact, the 33-year-old also has a team-high three ODI centuries in this period.
It’s a bit surprising to know that Samuels’s debut came way back in 2000. Despite being part of the West Indian side for such a long time, he has never been considered its strongest player. Yet, in a young batting line-up, he is arguably the team’s most reliable figure.
Although he prefers to go after the bowlers, the Jamaican has, over the years, developed his innings-building skills too. If not for his occasional recklessness, Samuels would have had more to show than just seven ODI centuries in 157 innings.
The West Indian vice-captain is also a part-time off-spinner. However, he has been banned from bowling the quicker deliveries after his action was found illegal in 2013. The offie has 82 wickets at an economy rate of 4.79.
Prediction
Anything less than a quarterfinal appearance will be a huge disappointment. The opening match against Ireland could set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
Fixtures
February 16 vs. Ireland, Nelson
February 21 vs. Pakistan, Christchurch
February 24 vs. Zimbabwe, Canberra
February 27 vs. South Africa, Sydney
March 6 vs. India, Perth
March 15 vs. United Arab Emirates, Napier
Best performance: Champion (1975, 1979).
