The West Indies Cricket Board recently announced that all rounder Dwayne Bravo has been appointed West Indies one-day captain and it has been approved by the board of directors. After his appointment Bravo said “to be named captain of the West Indies one day team is one of the highest humorous and I am truly humbled to have been appointed to this most prestigious position. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to lead a great team that has a combination of young talent and experienced players.” Bravo is 29 years old and he played his first ODI at Bourda in Guyana on April 18, 2004 against England. He has so far played 137 matches, scored 2311 runs and his highest single score 112 not out. He took 160 wickets and his best bowling performance is 6 wickets for 43 runs. The ICC Championships Trophy starts in June and the West Indies selectors have chosen 15 players to tour England.
West Indies Squad
Dwayne Bravo (captain), Denesh Ramdin (vice captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Christopher Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Ravindranath Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Ramneresh Sarwan and Devon Smith.
Devon Smith is Back
Devon Smith, 31 years dominated the Super 50 Competition in the region this year scoring 348 runs at an average of 58.00, he scored one century and three fifties. He won the Sir Vivian Richards award for the leading batsman of the tournament. He also shared the Gus Logie Award for fielding with Kyle Corbin taking seven catches. Smith, who is Grenadian, also dominated the four-day regional competition scoring three centuries in scoring more than 600 runs. Smiths’ career came to a halt when the Pakistani spinners failed him miserably a few years ago. The left-hander will have to prove his qualities because West Indies first game of the ICC Champions Trophy will be against Pakistan on June 7 in England.
Ramneresh Sarwan in the Squad
Guyanese Ramneresh Sarwan is one of the 15 players selected to represent the West Indies at the ICC champions trophy. Sarwan captained Leicestershire County Cricket Club this season and performed remarkably well as captain and with the bat. Sarwan was the star batsman and player of the tournament in 2004 when the ICC champions trophy was held in England when the West Indies won under Brian Lara’s captaincy. During that season, Sarwan scored 166 runs at an average of 83.00. West Indies defeated England that year in the final and captured the ICC trophy. West Indies has an experienced team and the top players are knowledgeable about the English conditions. The team’s batting is super strong but the bowlers will have to be very economical. West Indies greatest challenge will be against team India but if the West Indies players can hold their catches and field well, they are going to be 2013 ICC champions. It is hoped that the West Indies will not display a Twenty20 batting style.
West Indies Must Bat Throughout Their 50
West Indies batting stretches all the way down to number eight all depends on the conditions and the team that they are coming up against the selection committee on tour will decide if the team will go with the extra batsman or bowler. Barbados pacer Jason Holder should do well under English conditions if he gets the nod.
The West Indies team must focus on batting their 50 overs throughout and Head Coach Ottis Gibson must get this across to the batsmen.
