Lessons learnt from the Calypso Kings - Part 2 - Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
Ravi Rampaul, who has been under the radar recently for his perceived lack of pace and venom, dislodged http://www.senore.com/Cricket/LJ-Wright-c1841 early on, without a single run being posted on the board by the opposition. The deliveries bowled by Rampaul had plenty
of steam and zipped prodigiously off the wicket. With Kieswetter and Wright both in the pavilion, the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 definitely had a realistic chance of winning the game, and hinted at a possible revival in the fortunes for the Windies with the ball.
The reason why the two dismissals of Kieswetter and Wright can be considered as the turning point of the game is due to the dynamic nature of both these batsmen and how integral they have been to England’s cause of being a formidable T20 unit. Kieswetter
has been one of England’s most successful batsmen in the format, where his thunderous hitting and good technique, has helped his side significantly in lifting the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World T20 title in 2010, and his reputation has made him one of the players to watch out
for from England. Similarly, Luke Wright has served the role of utility cricketer for his team, where his canny medium pacers and big hitting exploits have gone down well with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c749 and their objectives.
Their dismissals were considered to be the turning point for the team, as England faced an uphill task on a seaming Pallekele track. The track did get better for batting eventually however, which helped stroke makers such as Jonny Bairstow and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eoin-Joseph-Gerard-Morgan-c56032
forge a magnificent partnership which gave England a sniff from nowhere. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Morgan-c77707 was simply spectacular in the middle stages of the innings, as he managed to reinforce his reputation of being England’s best T20 player, by playing some astonishing strokes. He
carved the West Indian bowlers all around the field, where neat deflections went hand in hand with some extravagant strokes off his blade. His 71 off just 36 deliveries with 5 towering sixes almost took England to a memorable victory.
What derailed the smooth progression of runs was exceptional death bowling from the West Indian bowlers, who simply gave nothing away. The fielding was also spectacular and signaled intent from a side that has historically oozed with class but lacked the
ability to finish games on the field. Kieron Pollard’s catch off Jonny Bairstow for example, was spectacular to say the least, and thwarted any possibility of England staging a comeback in the match. Similarly, the lengths that were bowled by the West Indies
spinners such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, where he leaked 22 runs off the eighth over, that became the
eventual difference between a West Indian win, and an Australian triumph when the heavens opened up at the Premadasa. Samuels was disappointing again against the Poms this time around, but his contemporaries such as Gayle and Narine, gave absolutely nothing
away. The truth was that had it not been for Morgan’s 19th over blast against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Rampaul-c2233, the West Indies would have cruised to a memorable win courtesy the efforts of their spinners alone.
The result meant that the most talented and beloved outfit in this year’s ICC World T20 has improved considerably in their bowling and fielding departments, which is good sign for their fans. What remains to be seen is whether or not this performance translates
into consistency for the men from the Caribbean. If they are consistent, then one can rest assured that the Calypso beats can well and truly spill over into the Semi Finals of the ICC World T20 of 2012.
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