West Indies batsmen are not exhibiting top class batting and that has been one of the reasons why the West Indies team in not doing well. Dwayne Smith, Darren Bravo and Kieran Powell should demonstrate a much better batting display. These players are getting too many soft dismissals. Smith and Bravo are experienced batsmen who have played all around the world and to be playing at home not performing on easy pace wickets it may reflect on their batting reputation.
Dwayne Smith recently had a good run for Barbados during the Nagico Regional Super50 Competition and he seems not to be applying himself at the higher level. Where else do these players expect to excel? If you cannot do well on your own wickets. One-Day International cricket is very different to the Twenty20 format. In the One-Day International games, players need to settle down and pick up singles and avoid going for too many big shots. Smith apparently has one style of play at the higher level and that is the Twenty20 habit of just hitting and that is inappropriate for One-Day International games.
LENDL SIMMONS IN FINE FORM
Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies middle order batsman Lendl Simmons has been in fine form scoring two consecutive half centuries against England in Antigua. Simmons has shown some top class efforts in both innings and he may find himself in the Test squad if he continues making those huge efforts. Darren Bravo must improve on his one-day average because his scoring is too low statistically. He must enhance his performamce.
TOO MANY PROLONGED INJURIES
A long list of players have been on the injury list and as they recover some mishap re-occurs and thus falls on the injury list once more. West Indies was greatly affected in New Zealand when Kemar Roach missed that tour because of injury. Ravi Rampaul has been in and out of the team because of injury status. When key players are injured for long periods it certainly affects the team. Chris Gayle is injured and this adds to the damaging effect on the team. It seems as if team moral is low and the West Indies Cricket Board has the responsibility to ensure that this problem is solved. West Indies selectors ought to modify their strategies or be removed. The best possible 11 players that are fit should be on the field.
