http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 - Same old story and just another day for the men from the Caribbean (Part 2) - Opinion
Not a single bowler from their attack managed to push Australia on the back foot and could clock over the mid 130s, in terms of the speed. Interestingly, Afghanistan’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hugh-Morris-c63550, against India. The fact
the bowlers such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KAJ-Roach-c1758 and Tino Best were omitted was another subject of bewilderment in light of the nature of the pitches in Sri Lanka and how both bowlers could easily have ruffled up the Australians with sheer pace and tenacity. They were not
playing or in the squad for that matter, as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RR-Sarwan-c2371 was helpless in 2007, and had
to mix up his attack when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 at Trent Bridge in the 2012 tour to the UK, when the West Indies posted a formidable total but lacked the ability to defend it.
The over reliance on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in the Caribbean in 2011 was possibly one
of the reasons why the West Indies lost their way against their opponents. His inability to extract turn made him a mediocre, rather than a mystery spinner and the Australian batsmen managed to pepper him badly. Compounded with that was the hapless fielding
by the men from the Caribbean, where dollies were dropped in the inner ring and on the boundary as well. The fact that the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 was relying on a talented off-spinner to deliver for them also hinted at their one dimensional approach, which has cost them
many games in the past. The reliance on a few players to click; however, is not limited to bowling only. In the batting department, the team had to heavily rely on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CH-Gayle-c1221 to win games for them for a considerable period of time and when he failed to fire,
the possibilities of posting a huge total remained distinct.
It is precisely because of this reason that billing the West Indies as possible winners of this year’s ICC World T20 in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 would be a bit premature. As much as the game is characterised by towering sixes and astute batsmanship, the bowling department
can never be sidelined or neglected in any way. The West Indies, pretty much like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, do not possess a potent enough bowling attack to frighten the socks out of their opposition and despite their batting setting stadiums ablaze on occasions, their bowlers
might continue to let them down. This fact along with their batting being prone to collapsing as well could expose the West Indies to more formidable bowling attacks if they progress to the Super Eight stage.
For now however, the sad reality is that the West Indies have once again failed to defend totals which have not only been formidable, but potentially match winning as well. For them to redress this, they would need to pack their bowling department with match
winning bowlers. Otherwise, it could be yet another case of the Calypso beats being beaten down with impunity by the opposition. This fact for any West Indian fan is damning to say the least.
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