Calypso beats from the West Indies this time around a possibility - Opinion
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758
would provide an array of opportunities for some renowned T20 outfits. The home side would be the most obvious threat according to many but the men from the Caribbean with their power packed T20 side can just be the package that this tournament needs.
West Indian supporters have been irked over poor performances in the fifty over format of late, but many would acknowledge that this is a completely different outfit in the shortest format. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CH-Gayle-c1221’s reputation as the star studded David Beckham of T20
cricket has not evaded him, and can in part be explained by the fact that he has the ability to decimate the figures of the thriftiest of bowlers. He has enjoyed T20 cricket to the point of notching up an array of hundreds for a multitude of different sides.
His 117 of 57 balls against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 in the opening game of the inaugural T-20 world championship at Johannesburg, remains one of the finest innings the world has ever seen. One would argue that the pace and bounce of the Wanderer’s wicket was tailor made
for such extravagant stroke play but Gayle’s reputation as a fierce hitter can not entirely be confined to conditions which suit him. Three centuries for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the previous two editions of the IPL are just an example of what this
man can do. On the slow, low and turning tracks in the majority of Sri Lanka, he can prove to be the most dangerous batsman in the tournament whose wicket will be prized by everyone.
Gayle’s achievements aside, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754, a stocky framed, fierce striker of the cricket ball, is someone who is at ease with lofting deliveries out of the park no matter who
the bowler is. Despite being erratic and inconsistent at times, Pollard has single handedly won games for the West Indies on occasions yet unlike Chris Gayle he still does not have a T20 century under his belt. Yet with an average of 20.68 at the number that
he bats, along with a strike rate of 147. 76 and a best of 63*, the danger that he poses is obvious.
Strikers apart, the West Indies have quality all rounders in the shortest format as well. Dwayne Smith’s ability to annihilate attacks is as good as his prowess with ball where him mixing it up manages to fox many quality players. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJ-Bravo-c1379, another player
who has a sky rocketed T20 career after a fine stint with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, is an asset in his own right. Bravo has been a key player for the West Indies and is often sought after, when the occasional Gayle failure plagues the Windies. His
bowling, which is characterized by clever variations, often proves hard to pick and as much as T20 is a game of quality stroke play, it provides plenty of reward for those who dare to experiment.
The Samuels, the Ramdins and the Bravos are just a taste of what the West Indies has to offer this time around. Their recent T20 record has been impressive, and comprehensive victories against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 in the US along with a spirited performance up in
the UK means that they are not a side to be taken lightly. Those who they face off would agree and their games against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 and Australia in the group stages could be a formality as well as a test. The West Indies, strangely tend to have the upper hand
on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the shortest format, which is largely due to the diabolical batting of Chris Gayle or the occasional burst of Pollard. If the West Indies do cross the first hurdle then it wouldn’t be surprising if they manage to sneak into the semis as the
only real threat comes from the South Asian sides, of which many of their bowlers had already been at the receiving end during the IPL. One can whisper it but the West Indies could be clear favorites to win this edition in conditions similar to home.
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