West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has exhibited some extraordinary skills as a bowler and he has been taking wickets in all three formats of the game. He bowled well during every game of the just concluded World Twenty20. In the semi-final and final matches, he came on very strong and delivered well for the West Indies. It is necessary to have strike bowlers in any team. West Indies may have struck gold when Verasammy Permaul, the spinner from Guyana, was named in the squad to tour Bangladesh. West Indies Test team needs two quality spinners to accompany Kemar Roach and Ravi Rampaul in the bowling department. With four specialist bowlers on show, the West Indies should make easy their victories providing their batsmen step up and score big.
Middle Order Stability
It is very essential that the middle order batsmen carry through and build winning totals. The backbone of the batting stands in the middle. A good start from the openers or not, it is still vital that the middle order batsmen perform well by showing their batting strengths. Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Shivnarine Chanderpaul are in the middle and how well they perform may demonstrate whether the West Indies are going ahead to retake Test cricket honors or not. If Kirk Edwards was able to regain his spot in the squad, why opener Adrain Barath was not named in the touring party to Bangladesh? Both Barath and Edwards failed miserably in England but players must not be analysed from only one bad tour. Both Barath and Edwards scored a century each on their debut respectively. Bravo went through a long period of poor performance also but he is still being named in the West Indies squad.
Winning Ways
Experience counts, and the West Indies team has the knowledgeable players that were around for a while and they are acquainted with international conditions. West Indies batsmen have lifted their batting performance, not only by scoring useful totals, but by greatly improving their skills in batting spin. If such standard is consistent, then the West Indies should have no problem gaining the top spot in Test cricket. Bravo, Edwards and Denesh Ramdin ought to step up their batting and score useful runs.
