3 reasons why Windies could be a force to reckon with in the 2019 World Cup

#3 Attacking batsmen

Gayle's presence as an opener in the 2019 World Cup will be a real asset for Windies cricket

Dynamic openers followed by equally an equally aggressive middle order is the mantra for Windies cricket in ODIs.

In the ongoing series against England, Chris Gayle has already smashed a hundred and a fifty in the first two ODIs and proved his worth at the top of the order. The opener has scored 9912 ODI runs at an impressive average of 37.4 with 24 hundreds and 50 fifties. He has hit 291 sixes and 1077 boundaries in ODI cricket. This is why he will be the key factor for the success of Windies in the 2019 World Cup.

Windies have the option of choosing Evin Lewis or John Campbell to partner Chris Gayle in the 2019 World Cup. Lewis has been impressive in his 32 ODI innings till date and has scored 1010 runs at an average of 31.56 at a strike rate of 82.31 with 2 hundreds and 3 half centuries. Campbell, who made his debut in the ongoing ODI series against England, has been impressive and scored 53 runs.

Shai Hope has been one of the most consistent batsmen for Windies in the recent past. In the year 2018, the wicketkeeper-batsman scored 875 runs at an average of 67.31 with 3 centuries and 3 half centuries. In his ODI career, Hope has scored 1759 runs in 43 innings at an average of 47.54 with 4 centuries and 8 half centuries. He has the ability to play the long innings and also has the capability of scoring quick runs towards the end of the innings.

Shimron Hetmeyer, the 22-year-old batsman has scored 4 ODI hundreds and 2 fifties in his 22 ODI innings till date. The left-handed middle-order batsman has been really impressive in his brief ODI career and has a strike rate of around 109 in ODI cricket. He too can score quick runs and add stability to the middle order.

The presence of Darren Bravo adds calmness to the Windies middle order. The left-handed middle-order batsman has played 99 ODIs and averages 30.86 in 96 innings. Bravo is not as aggressive as the other middle order batsmen, however, has the ability to play the long innings and hold one end up.

Apart from Hope, Hetmyer, and Bravo the likes of Powell who has scored 2 ODI hundreds in 31 innings and has an impressive strike rate of 83.13 finishes the line up for the batsmen for the Windies.

The likes of Russel, Holder, and Brathwaite too add value to the Windies batting line up and make Windies a force to reckon with in ODI cricket.

Conclusion

All in all, Windies is a well-balanced team with riches in the batting, all-rounder department and also as a bowling unit. The only missing link in the team is the absence of a quality spinner. If the Windies manage to get Sunil Narine for the 2019 World Cup, the team will be a balanced one and the one to beat in the 2019 World Cup. The cricket world will not at all be surprised if they are amongst the top 4 teams in the World Cup.