By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
The West Indies' rise to the top of cricket in the 1970s was due to a powerful group of fast bowlers, but their plan to win the T20 World Cup cohosted with the United States might heavily rely on three spinners .
For almost forty years, the Caribbean has produced intimidating fast bowlers like Joel Garner, Michael Holding, Courtney Walsh, and Curtly Ambrose. However, cricket in the region has declined over the past two decades, mainly because there are fewer of these fast bowlers. While the West Indies' dominance in Test and ODI cricket has decreased since 2000, Twenty20 cricket has become a source of hope for their fans. Former West Indies selector and England batter Roland Butcher believes that the upcoming tournament could be their third World Cup victory and that spinners will play a crucial role.
"West Indies have the players to win it," Butcher told Al Jazeera. "Their strength lies in their spin bowling. Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, and Roston Chase are key bowlers."Butcher thinks that hosting the later stages of the tournament in the Caribbean will benefit the West Indies. He points out their 3 to 0 T20 series win against South Africa in May as evidence, highlighting that Caribbean pitches are favorable to spin bowlers. Gudakesh Motie's performance in that series further emphasizes this advantage.
On the other hand, the US venues New York, Dallas, and Florida are expected to have the best pitches of the tournament, which could result in high scoring matches for teams like India and Pakistan. However, Butcher predicts that the West Indies will have lower scores in these conditions.There is great optimism in the Caribbean for this World Cup, with hopes of winning a third T20 title and securing their first victory on home ground. However, Butcher advises caution and stresses the importance of consistent performance throughout the tournament.
Butcher, who has been assisting Oman in their World Cup preparations, also has concerns about the West Indies players' lack of match readiness. While Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, and Shimron Hetmyer have been heavily involved in the IPL, others have had limited playing time, which could affect their performance in the opening match against Papua New Guinea.
The West Indies face a tough road ahead, with challenging matches against New Zealand and Afghanistan after their game against Uganda. Butcher believes that a slow start could harm their chances, but a strong opener against Papua New Guinea could give them the momentum they need for the tougher games. Despite his concerns, he acknowledges that if the team plays to their full potential, they have a good chance of succeeding.