CPL 2016: Predicted XIs for all six CPL teams

Caribbean Premier League 2016 is upon us and with plenty of players moving sides, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top and who has a good start to the tournament. As the reigning champions, the pressure will be on the Trinbago Knight Riders but they aren’t the most complete side in the tournament.

So who has the best openers? Which of the foreigners will get a game? And will the best performers from IPL 2016 come out and do as well in this year’s CPL. All these questions will be answered soon enough as the players take to the field.

Here is the Predicted XI for all six teams competing in CPL 2016:

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St Lucia Zouks

Captained by Darren Sammy, who will be playing in a stadium named after him, St Lucia Zouks have a power-packed batting line-up that will cause plenty of trouble for any bowling attack. In Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher they have an explosive opening partnership, which could change based on whether they want Shane Watson to open the batting or not.

Beyond that, the middle-order is packed with the perfect blend between power-hitting and ability to rotate strike. Denesh Ramdin and Mike Hussey provide the grit while David Miller and Darren Sammy provide the explosive finish towards the end of the innings.

As far as the bowling is concerned, they have a balanced pace attack led by Morne Morkel. They have decent spin options in Kristopher Ramsaran and Derone Davis.

Predicted XI: Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher (WK), Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, David Miller, Nitish Kumar, Darren Sammy (C), Kyle Mayers, Kristopher Ramsaran, Derone Davis, Morne Morkel

Trinbago Knight Riders

As the defending champions, the pressure will be on Trinbago Knight Riders (formerly Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel) to come out and exceed expectations. Especially after the moves they have made to improve their squad, Dwayne Bravo’s side will be looking to start strong.

Opening the batting, they have one of the most explosive openers going around, in Brendon McCullum, who is complemented perfectly by one of the most consistent openers in Hashim Amla. Yet, the strength of this side is not in its openers but in the entire batting order and especially their spin-heavy bowling attack.

Umar Akmal, Colin Munro and both Darren and Dwayne Bravo make the rest of the batting order with Kevon Cooper providing the final flourish. With Sunil Narine, Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller, they have the best spin-trio in the tournament, who will make absolutely difficult for the opposition to get away from them.

Predicted XI: Brendon McCullum, Hashim Amla, Colin Munro, Umar Akmal (WK), Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo (C), Kevon Cooper, Ronsford Beaton, Sunil Narine, Sulieman Benn, Nikita Miller

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots might have a new captain in Faf du Plessis but they have one of the most settled sides in the competition. One look at the squad and you can see that they have all the options covered.

Explosive opening pairing (Evin Lewis and Lendl Simmons), check. Experience in the middle-order (Faf du Plessis and Brad Hodge), tick. All-rounders who are exceptional with both bat and ball, Thisara Perera and Carlos Brathwaite have that covered.

Yet, despite all that, they are most effective in the bowling department. Not only do they have a leg spinner, they have one of the best in the world in T20s, in Samuel Badree. They have a fast bowler with pace to burn (Alzarri Joseph) and one with plenty of variations (Krishmar Santokie) and a chinaman in Tabraiz Shamsi as well.

Predicted XI: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Faf du Plessis (C), Jonathan Carter, Brad Hodge, Thisara Perera, Carlos Brathwaite, Devon Thomas (WK), Samuel Badree, Krishmar Santokie, Tabraiz Shamsi

Guyana Amazon Warriors

With a new captain in Martin Guptill and a new-look side, Guyana Amazon Warriors are looking to start with a clean slate as they look to claim their maiden CPL title. Yet, their squad is lop-sided despite the obvious firepower at the top of the batting order.

While Martin Guptill, Dwayne Smith and Chris Lynn make for a blockbuster top three, the problem for the Warriors is that the batting is stretched thin after that. Despite the presence of West Indies’ successful U-19 World Cup-winning captain in Shimron Hetmyer, the middle order, comprising of wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble and all-rounder Christopher Barnwell isn’t as good as it should be.

With the ball though, they have plenty of options, including two leg spinners in Devendra Bishoo and Adam Zampa and the likes of Sohail Tanvir and Rayad Emrit to call on.

Predicted XI: Martin Guptill (C), Dwayne Smith, Chris Lynn, Anthony Bramble (WK), Christopher Barnwell, Jason Mohammed, Adam Zampa, Rayad Emrit, Veerasammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo, Sohail Tanvir.

Barbados Tridents

Captained by Kieron Pollard, Barbados Tridents managed to bag the biggest draw prior to the tournament as they snapped up AB de Villiers, who will be playing in his first CPL. Given their lack of openers, AB might also be given the additional responsibility of opening the batting.

In the middle order, Tridents have a good mix of youth and experience as they have the likes of Pollard and Shoaib Malik, who are complemented by another U-19 World Cup hero in Shamar Springer, whose dance moves are likely to be eagerly anticipated as much his exploits with the bat.

A couple of useful all-rounders in Wayne Parnell and David Wiese and veteran T20 performers in Ravi Rampaul and Ashley Nurse means the Tridents don’t have to worry about their bowling an awful lot.

Predicted XI: Steven Taylor (WK), Kyle Hope, AB de Villiers, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (C), Shoaib Malik, David Wiese, Wayne Parnell, Ashley Nurse, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul.

Jamaica Tallawahs

While Jamaica Tallawahs have quite possibly the best batting line-up in the tournament, their bowling attack, despite the presence of quality all-rounders and Dale Steyn is surely a concern for Chris Gayle, as he bids to become the first captain to led his side to two CPL titles.

With the likes of Gayle, Kumar Sangakkara, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell and Imad Wasim, the batting is not short of firepower. And the fact that the latter three are all-rounders means the bowling is taken care for.

But the fact that they might have to rely on spin duo of Jonathan Foo and Garey Mathurin and 19-year-old Oshane Thomas means that the bowling is short of international quality that the batting enjoys. But Gayle will be hoping that the explosiveness of the batting can make up for the bowling.

Predicted XI: Chris Gayle (C), Chadwick Walton (WK), Kumar Sangakkara, Shakib Al Hasan, Andre Russell, Imad Wasim, Nkrumah Bonner, Dale Steyn, Jonathan Foo, Garey Mathurin, Oshane Thomas.