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

Historically, England has been a special place for Windies in major tournaments. The Windies were crowned World Champions in the inaugural two editions of the World Cups i.e. in the years 1975 and 1979 held in England. They could have completed a hat-trick of wins in England in the third edition of the World Cup in the year 1983 if it was not for Kapil Dev's men to stop their winning streak.

The Windies thereafter have failed to reach the finals of the World Cup in its next 8 editions. They, however, did manage to win the Champions Trophy in the year 2004 in England. The Windies are the current World Champions in the T20 format and the only team in the history of cricket to win the T20 World Cup twice.

However, in the recent past, they have struggled in the 50 over format. The mighty Windies are ranked 9th in ODI cricket at present as per the ICC rankings. The fact that they had to play the qualifiers in the year 2018 in Zimbabwe to qualify for the World Cup shows their decline.

2019 has started on a positive note for Windies cricket. After beating a strong English Test team by a margin of 2-1 in the 3 match Test series, the Windies have played impressively in the ongoing ODI series and after the conclusion of the first two matches, the scoreline is even at 1-1.

Though Windies have struggled in ODI cricket in the recent past, here is a look as to why they should not be taken lightly by other teams in the 2019 World Cup.

#3 Battery of pace bowlers:

The pace bowlers will be the key to the success of Windies in the 2019 World Cup

The pacers from the Caribbean islands have always been one of the reasons why the Windies dominated world cricket in the 1980s. Though the pacers at present are not in the league as the pacers in the 1980s, the Windies have a pool of 7 to 8 pace bowlers who can bowl quick and surprise the batsmen.

Gabriel and Roach, who played a crucial role in the Test series win against England, are expected to spearhead the Windies pace attack in the upcoming World Cup. Roach is the most experienced pacer of the current West Indies attack having played ODI cricket for almost 11 years since debut. Roach has featured in 80 ODIs till date and has picked up 114 wickets at an average of 29.07.

Both Roach and Gabriel have been a part of the current West Indies ODI outfit playing against England with Gabriel serving his suspension and Roach nursing an injury. In the absence of the duo, the likes of Holder, Thomas and Cottrell have been equally impressive.

The ever consistent Holder has played 86 ODIs and picked up 117 wickets at an average of around 32. Thomas is an exciting young prospect who has raw pace and with a height of 6 feet 6 inch, he can be a match-winner on his day. The 22-year-old pacer could be the trump card for Windies for the World Cup as not many teams have faced him in international cricket.

Sheldon Cottrell bowled Windies to a win over England in the ongoing 2nd ODI against England by picking up 5 wickets. The fact that Cotrell is a left-handed bowler adds the much-needed variety and balance to the Windies squad.

Windies are blessed to have an abundant reservoir of pace bowlers to choose from for the 2019 World Cup, The likes of Alzarri Joseph, Carlos Brathwaite, and Keemo Paul too have been impressive in the limited opportunities they have played for the West Indies.

#2 Presence of All-Rounders

Carlos Brathwaite is one of the all-rounders who is expected to play a key role for the Windies in 2019 World Cup

All-rounders are essential for the success of any team at the international level. Windies are blessed to have such all-rounders who can be match winners on their day.

Jason Holder, the skipper of the Windies ODI team is a match winner on his day with the bat and/or the ball. The captain has played 86 ODI and in 72 innings, he averages 26.22 with the bat and has scored 1442 runs with 7 half centuries. Holder can play the role of the aggressor in the death overs and can provide finishing touches to the innings. The skipper has smashed 46 sixes and 102 boundaries in ODI cricket. With the ball, Holder plays a key role and picks up wickets at regular intervals for the team. The skipper has picked up 117 ODI wickets at an average of 32.63 with 2 5 wicket hauls in an innings.

Carlos Brathwaite, the skipper for the Windies in T20 format is another all-rounder who is expected to play a crucial role for the Windies in the 2019 World Cup. Brathwaite, who led Windies to a win by smashing 4 sixes in 4 balls in the final over of the 2016 World T20 final, has not exactly set the ODI stage on fire in his brief career. In 28 innings, he has scored just 339 runs at an average of 13.04 which is far from impressive. But Brathwaite is a capable batsman who can strike the ball a long way and can win any match from un-winnable situations. With the ball, he has picked up 27 wickets with 15 wicket haul in an innings. Brathwaite will play a key role for the Windies in the 2019 World Cup due to his ability to score quick runs and pick up vital wickets.

Though Russell is not a part currently of the ODI team, the duo is likely to be considered for the 2019 World Cup. Russell has a strike rate of 130.46 in 44 ODI innings and has scored 998 runs at an average of 28.51 with 4 half centuries. He has the ability to change the course of a match in 3 to 4 overs and will be a real asset for the Windies in the 2019 World Cup. With the ball, he has picked up 65 wickets at an average of 32.74.

#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.