Best West Indies ODI XI that can defeat any team

West Indies players and their recent pay dispute with their cricketing board is not a new event in the history of cricket. Back in 2005, there was a similar dispute between the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the Cricket Board. The same issue appeared again in 2009 and 2014.

These repeated disputes have done no good to the international team. During these disputes, the board opted to send second-string squads for national assignments. The outcomes of those tours were disastrous to the national team.

With the emergence of T20s, most of the players (including juniors) opted to skip national duty and decided to continue their reins in the various T20 leagues. Since the T20 leagues offer better money for living, the players have chosen their clubs over the country.

Though the West Indies team is currently placed at 9 in the ICC ODI rankings, their fortunes can be reversed if their star players return to the national team. Now, let us look at a playing XI comprising of all the star players that can defeat any team in the ODI format.

Openers:

#1 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle

The self-proclaimed ‘Universal Boss,’ Chris Gayle, is one of the destructive openers in the history of cricket. His hard-hitting skills have earned him huge franchise contracts all over the world. The left-hander has scored 9727 runs from 284 ODIs with the high score of 215. In a 19-year long International career, he has piled-up 23 100s and 49 50s. Besides, his part-time off-break bowling has fetched him 165 wickets from 284 ODIs.

Though Gayle wishes to take part in the upcoming 2019 ICC World Cup, he declared himself unavailable for the next limited-over series against India.

#2 Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis

Evin Lewis is the recent addition in the list of hard-hitting players from the Caribbean Islands. In his limited career of 35 ODIs, he has scored 1010 runs with the strike rate of 82.31. His high score of 176 (not out) against England is a testament to his batting skills. Unfortunately, he was forced to retire hurt in that match due to injury.

Recently, Lewis had declined a white-ball contract offered by the national team for the 2018-19 season.

Middle-order:

#3 Darren Bravo

Darren Bravo

When Darren Bravo made his international debut, his batting style captured the eyes of the viewers. His batting technique and stroke-making shots resembled the great West Indies legend Brian Lara.

In 94 ODIs, Bravo has scored 2595 runs with the high score of 124. In a team full of powerful hitters, Bravo can solidify the middle-order with his brilliant technique. Besides, he can accelerate the run-rate based on the situation.

Since late 2016, the left-hander has not played international cricket due to a dispute with the WIndies board. Now after a long hiatus, he is back in the T20I squad for the upcoming series against India.

#4 Denesh Ramdin (Wicket Keeper)

Denesh Ramdin

Denesh Ramdin is one of the most under-rated players in the West Indies team. His excellent skills behind the stumps are often missed in the midst of the team’s big-hitting entertainers. In 139 ODIs, he has scored 2200 runs with the high score of 169. With the gloves, he has taken 181 catches.

With the emergence of Shai Hope, he is currently sidelined from the ODI team. However, he retained his place in the T20I squad for the upcoming series against India.

All Rounders:

#5 Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard, the big-hitting tall cricketer from Trinidad, is one of the hot names in the franchise T20 leagues. A strike rate of 151.11 in T20s speak for his abilities with the bat. Though Pollard made his ODI debut in 2007, he raised to stardom only after his exploits in the inaugural edition of the now defunct Champions League T20 for Trinidad & Tobago.

In 101 ODIs, he has scored 2289 runs with an impressive strike rate of 92.89. Besides, he has three 100+ scores and nine 50+ scores. With the ball, he has taken 50 wickets from 70 innings with a good economy rate of 5.74. Besides, he is an electric fielder in the field. His breath-taking catches and unbelievable stops in the boundary line are a visual treat to the cricket lovers.

After a lengthy standoff with the WIndies board, Pollard has finally returned to the International setup, as he was named in the squad for the forthcoming T20I series against India.

#6 Andre Russell

Andre Russell

Andre Russell’s ODI career is fragile as he managed to feature in only 52 games for West Indies. His increasing T20 stints with various leagues around the world limited his international appearance.

Despite his limited appearance, a strike rate of 130.45 in ODIs and 167.63 in T20s will guarantee a place for him in any limited-overs squad. With the ball, he has taken 65 wickets from 52 ODIs. In short, a player of Russell’s calibre is always a tremendous asset to any team.

Recently, Russell displayed his all-round skills by claiming a hat-trick and scoring a ton in the same match in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

#7 Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo, the half-brother of Darren Bravo, is one of the best all-rounders in the current era. His brilliant all-round skills have made him one of the hottest talents in the T20 world.

In 164 ODIs, Bravo has scored 2968 runs and picked up 199 wickets. In T20s, he has scored 5984 runs and claimed 447 wickets from 410 games. These staggering numbers are a testament to the greatness of Dwayne Bravo.

Ever since the ‘pulled-out’series against India in 2014, Bravo has not played a single ODI for the national team so far. His last international assignment was against Pakistan in a T20I match in 2016. Since then, Bravo refused national duty and featured in various T20 leagues around the world.

#8 Darren Sammy (Captain)

Darren Sammy

Darren Sammy, the former skipper of the West Indies team, is currently ousted from the national team due to the same pay dispute. Sammy is the only captain in the history of cricket to win two ICC T20 World Cup trophies.

His explosive contributions with the bat down the order and valuable contributions with the ball will earn him a place in any limited-overs squad. In 126 ODIs, he has scored 1871 runs with an excellent strike rate of 100.05. With the ball, he has taken 81 wickets from 119 innings.

The 2016 ICC T20 World Cup final against England remains as his last international appearance for West Indies.

Bowlers:

#9 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine, the ‘Mystery Spinner’ from Trinidad & Tobago, is arguably the best spinner in the limited-overs format in the current era. Though he was reported for suspected bowling action, he is still successful with his modified action.

Just like his teammates, Narine is one of the hottest talents in the T20 market around the world. Recently, his value has increased a lot due to his growing explosive batting skills. Narine has played only 65 ODIs for West Indies in the past seven years. In 65 games, he has taken 92 wickets with four 4-wicket hauls and two 5-wicket hauls.

Currently, Sunil Narine has skipped national duty and continued to feature in various T20 leagues around the world.

#10 Jason Holder

Jason Holder

Jason Holder, the present skipper of the West Indies ODI team, is one among the very few players who got an all-format contract from the WIndies board. When most of his teammates decided to choose their clubs over the country, Holder remained true to his national team. He is playing the role of a capable new-ball bowler and a handy lower-order batsman down the order.

Due to the sudden departure of the senior players, Holder was named the captain of the national team at a very young age. At 23 years, 72 days, he became the youngest ever West Indian captain. In 80 ODIs, he has scored 1262 runs with the high score of 99 (not out). With the ball, he has claimed 110 wickets with four 4-wicket hauls and two 5-wicket hauls.

#11 Kemar Roach

Kemar Roach

Kemar Roach is the current leader of the bowling attack in both ODI and Test formats. Roach is a proper fast bowler who often bowls at 140+ pace and can provide breakthroughs in his opening spell.

In 72 ODIs, he has claimed 109 wickets with three 4-wicket hauls and three 5-wicket hauls. Roach will be very crucial for West Indies’ success at the upcoming 2019 ICC World Cup.