(WI Cricket Credit)
Placing significant responsibility on the shoulders of a relatively inexperienced player, the West Indies are pinning their hopes on the young fast bowler, Shamar Joseph, as they eye triumph in their home World Cup. With just three T20 internationals under his belt, the 24-year-old Guyanese cricketer may lack experience in this format, having played only six matches overall, including a challenging stint with the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. However, Joseph possesses raw pace, a quality highly valued in cricket. Much like England’s eagerness to reintegrate Jofra Archer into their squad, the West Indies are eager to have Joseph on board, recognizing the game-changing potential of his pace. This preference for Joseph over another promising talent, Matthew Forde, underscores the West Indies’ conviction in the impact that raw speed can have across all formats of the game.
“Shamar Joseph has the pace, he has skills with the new ball,” said coach Daren Sammy when he named the squad.
“Not saying Matthew Forde doesn’t but when you look at the role, it makes it easier for us to now pick the personnel to fit that role.”
A year prior, Joseph, formerly a security guard, made waves in January by dismantling Australia’s formidable batting lineup in Brisbane. In just his second Test match, he secured figures of 7-68, leading the West Indies to a narrow eight-run victory, marking their first win in Australia since 1997.
Joseph’s remarkable display not only showcased his cricketing prowess and technical skill but also demonstrated his flair for the dramatic, fitting for the grand stage of international cricket.
The West Indies’ primary objective, placed in Group C alongside Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda, is evidently to secure a historic third T20 World Cup title. Their previous triumphs in 2012 and 2016, the latter marked by Carlos Brathwaite’s memorable four consecutive sixes off England’s Ben Stokes in the final over, remain etched in cricketing lore.
Returning for another shot at glory are seasoned campaigners Johnson Charles and Andre Russell, the latter being recognized as one of the most accomplished all-rounders in T20 cricket. Both players played pivotal roles in the West Indies’ previous title victories and are poised to make significant contributions once again.
Home ‘motivation’
Yet, the weight of expectation on their home turf may pose a formidable challenge.
Despite boasting cricketing legend Brian Lara among their ranks, the West Indies faltered during the 2007 ODI World Cup, which they hosted.
“It is not going to be easy, but we are one of only two nations to have won it twice so we are going to try and make it three,” said former fast bowler Curtly Ambrose who was bowling coach in 2016.
“And no other nation has ever won it (T20 World Cup) on home soil, so all that is motivation for the guys to do well.”
Recent history adds to the mounting pressure. Since their triumph in 2016, the once dominant West Indies cricket team has experienced a downward spiral.
In the last two T20 World Cups, the West Indies disappointed. Kieron Pollard’s squad suffered elimination in the group stage during the UAE event in 2021, managing only one victory. Nicholas Pooran’s team faced an even more significant setback, failing to progress to the main round in Australia the following year.
Adding to the woes, the West Indies didn’t even qualify for the ODI World Cup held in India the previous year.
Ambrose, on the other hand, chooses to highlight the strengths, emphasizing that the West Indies boast a highly capable team.
He expressed optimism, stating, “With consistent and strategic play, I firmly believe we have what it takes to claim the trophy.”
The team undeniably possesses a wealth of match-winning talent.
Nicholas Pooran, a left-handed batsman who delivered an impressive performance in the IPL, amassing 499 runs at a strike rate of 178.21 for Lucknow Super Giants, anchors the middle order. However, the likes of Shai Hope and captain Rovman Powell have also proven themselves as reliable performers.
In addition, if selected, Shamar Joseph and his namesake Alzarri Joseph offer the team formidable firepower with their fast bowling prowess.
“What we’ve been able to do throughout the last year as a T20 group, the players we’ve exposed, has brought us to this moment,” said Sammy. “And I think we’re about to knock it out of this world.”
