Story and photos by Brandon Corlette
Shai Hope’s 96 matches is the most by a West Indian in this current West Indies One-Day International (ODI) squad. Alzarri Joseph has 47 matches under his belt and Nicholas Pooran has played 44 ODI matches, while Rovman Powell has 41 matches under his belt.
The next player in the squad in terms of most matches played in ODIs is Akeal Hosein, a man who made his debut in 2021, and has 21 matches under his belt. It is safe to say that this current crop of ODI players is an inexperienced bunch, and that inexperience is hurting West Indies, hindering them from performing at their best on a consistent basis in this ODI format.
In terms of age, most of these players are in their mid-20s, Shamarh Brooks is the oldest player in the squad at age 33 while Kyle Mayers and Hosein are aged 29. In terms of batting averages, Hope has a staggering average of 50.63 while Brooks, who played 13 matches, has an average of 43.5. Among the batsmen with 10 or more matches, those are the top averages. Pooran, who arguably is the most talented batsman in the team, has an average of 34.8, and his form in this format has dipped in recent times.
West Indies lost the first ODI against Bangladesh by six wickets, even though it was a reduced game, the batsmen lacked that “dig-deep” attitude. Despite the surface not being perfect for strokeplay, the batsmen were required to adjust to the Providence pitch and play fighting innings.
That was not the case. However, Pooran and his men will have an opportunity to redeem themselves, and beat Bangladesh for the first time in an ODI after suffering series defeats home and away. Back in 2020-21, West Indies toured Bangladesh and lost 3-0 with an unfamiliar team, and in 2018-19, West Indies lost 2-1 in the Caribbean with a much more experienced team.
If this West Indies team beat Bangladesh in this ODI series, that will be a great accomplishment, since the West Indies is the world number nine ranked team and this series is not a part of the Super League. On Monday, a few of the batsmen were seen in an intense net session at Providence under the guidance of Coaches Roddy Estwick, Mony Desai, and Rayon Griffith.
The West Indies should expect a diet of spin, and from the Bangladesh seamers, a lot of cutters will be served up. After the last match, Pooran said the pitch was difficult and the runs were insufficient for the West Indies.
“In hindsight, they [runs] weren’t enough, but it was difficult to play on that pitch.
