Challenges lie ahead for a buoyant West Indian outfit - Opinion
The West Indies could well wallow over their recent thrashing of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 in all three formats of the game. Yet significant challenges do lie ahead for a side which has immense talent, yet has failed to deliver on many occasions. This series victory though,
would act as well needed compensation for Coach http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJG-Sammy-c1382.
The coach and captain duo have had to bear the brunt of severe criticism after the West Indies dismal run against England and performances prior to the New Zealand carnage. This series can thus, be considered as a rare chance to celebrate for the islanders
but the West Indies still need to acknowledge the fact that they have a long way to go in order to match some of the very best in ODI cricket.
The signs at the start of this season were good for a side that has historically struggled. They managed to secure a 2-2 score line against Australia at home thanks to the big hitting prowess of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KA-Pollard-c1754. They were also competitive in the longest format
of the game, despite the fact that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 were victors in the Digicel Series of 2012. Then came the ultimate test for the West Indies. They were up against a powerful English side in their home conditions the West Indies drew plenty of optimism by being
fiercely competitive in the Test series, despite losing all of their games. The ODIs were dominated by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 is currently grappling with. The crux of the problem lies in translating talented
performances into consistency.
The issues that this current lot is grappling with are grave ones that mandate considerable attention. Good starts by the bowlers, batsmen and fielders, have often failed to materialize into match defining moments for the side. For example, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KAJ-Roach-c1758 bowling
at 150 Km/hr or http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marlon-Nathaniel-Samuels-c74804 piling up the runs with brazen frequency can be considered as signs of improvement, but definitely does not equate with the West Indies experiencing a revival of lost fortunes. They currently stand at a lowly 7th in
the ODI rankings with teams such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 and Pakistan miles ahead of them. They have also not won any series against a major opposition, and can thus not sit pretty with thrashing a side in transition.
Another point that would haunt the West Indies fans is their side’s failings in International tournaments such as the World Cup and the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747
by bowling the home side out for 58 in a group game at Dhaka, vague possibilities of them getting through to the Semi Finals surfaced. Then came the all important game against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the quarter finals of the Cup. The end result was the West Indies capitulating
once again on a good batting surface which handed Pakistan a thumping victory to seal a place in the Semi Finals. That performance is perhaps an indication of what the West Indies Cricket has normally been all about ever since they have witnessed a dramatic
decline.
With the ICC World T20 in the limelight, the West Indies would need to prove to the world that they are not minnow bashers, but a formidable team that could put in consistent performances when they need it the most. With prospects like Gayle, Pollard and
Bravo in their side, the World T20 could be set ablaze. What matters most is to see the West Indies winning consistently and that would be the challenge for Gibson, Sammy and his men.
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