Windies will be very competitive in ODI

Windies will be very competitive in ODI
AP Photo/ Eranga Jayawardena

The three One-Day Internationals between the West Indies and England from June 16 – 22 in England are expected to be very competitive.

The Windies specialist one-day players will be available and are ready to make meaningful contributions.

Former captain Chris Gayle will be back along with Sunil Narine and Dwayne Bravo. Marlon Samuels is already in England. These are among 12 players from which the West Indies should have a strong final 11. Players selected to tour are Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo, Adrian Barath, Darren Sammy, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Ram Paul and Kemar Roach.

The bowlers, Kemar Roach, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Ravi Ram Paul and Marlon Samuels are expected to do a reasonable job.

There is a strong line-up in the batting department. Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Darren Bravo should be able to score many runs. Adrian Barath will be getting the luxury of an experienced, swashbuckling opener, which should improve his confidence.

Kieron Pollard Should Be Given A Stint At Test Cricket

Trinidad and Tobago all rounder Kieron Pollard should be given the opportunity to play Test cricket. Pollard is internationally known for his hard-hitting batting and brilliant fielding. Although he is well known as a One-Day International player and a Twenty20 specialist, that does not mean that he cannot play Test cricket and be successful.

Pollard should be tested in Tests because the West Indies is in need of two attacking batsmen in the middle order. West Indies batsmen in the middle order are too defensive thus causing the opposing bowlers to stay on top.

Some form of aggression must be used by the middle order batsmen to help the West Indies reach winning totals. Pollard will be an asset to the West Indies cricket team and a great boost to the batting. He has sufficient experience to make the necessary adjustments for Test cricket.

The selectors cannot have such a fine cricketer sit idle when he should be meaningfully participating in Test cricket. The selectors must make the call to Pollard.It is for him to accept or refuse.

Australia’s David Warner who many thought was only a Twenty20 and One-Day player has turned out to be a valuable player for his Test team with two Test centuries already.

The selectors ought to do what is correct and beneficial to the team. Apart from the return of Chris Gayle, the Windies batting needs a boost.