West Indies batsmen must focus on scoring bigger. After having a good start at the wicket, batsmen must work harder to bat on and make scores that can be beneficial to the team. With the experienced Chris Gayle and Ramneresh Sarwan out, the other players must step up and show their qualities.
The bowlers seem to have been coming on very strong particularly Ravi Rampaul in Twenty20, O.D.I. and Tests. He is a force to be reckoned with. Fidel Edwards has returned and he immediately showed his class at the highest level in the home series against India.
Devendra Bishoo is developing quickly into a top class cricketer. He is a brilliant fielder who works very hard on his fitness and thus it is paying off. Kemar Roach did not play against India in the Caribbean but he should be back in the final 11 in both the O.D.I. and Tests in Bangladesh. Roach still remains the number one bowler for the West Indies.
Kraigg Brathwaite And Kirk Edwards
Must Develop Quickly
Young opener Kraigg Brathwaite will be getting another opportunity to establish himself as the Test opener for the West Indies. Braithwaite will be joined by Adrian Barath who is the senior opener since Gayle is not a player on the team.
Braithwaite has scored heavily for the West Indies under 19 team. He captained the squad and did a great job as captain and batsman scoring heavily. He will have to develop quickly at the highest level for the team is in need of an opener to accompany Adrian Barath. If the two young openers could get runs in Test cricket it would be good for West Indies cricket. Kirk Edwards who scored a century on his Test debut will be looking to continue his Test form. It is of importance that all the batsmen demonstrate the attitudes of big appetites for runs.
The West Indies batting has strengthened with wicket keeper batsman Denesh Ramdin inclusion for the Tests and O.D.I’s. Ramdin’s inclusion should create some stability in the middle order for the Test matches but as the seventh specialist batsmen needed for a Test match will fall short with captain Darren Sammy expected to bat at number seven. Shivnarine Chanderpaul will be batting at number five and Ramdin at six.
Test Team Must Be Balanced
It seems as if the only possibility of three pacers playing with a spinner in the West Indies Test team is if Kirk Edwards is asked to open the batting with Adrian Barath; in such a situation the team will be as follows with batting order:
1. Adrian Barath 2. Kirk Edwards 3. Darren Bravo 4. Marlon Samuels 5. Shivnarine Chanderpaul 6. Denesh Ramdin 7. Darren Sammy 8. Kemar Roach 9. Ravi Rampaul 10. Fidel Edwards 11. Devendra Bishoo
Weak Bowling Line-Up
It will be a big mistake for the West Indies to continue going into a Test match with only two pacers. Three pacers must be in the final 11 along with the spinner. Without the three pacers, the bowling becomes weak and there would be too much pressure on the bowlers because there is going to be a bowler short.
The West Indies may be able to get away with bowlers short playing a weaker Test team such as Bangladesh but with a stronger opposition, the results may be disappointing for the West Indies. West Indies Test team without three pacers are as follows:
Adrian Barath Marlon Samuels, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Kirk Edwards Denesh Ramdin, Darren Bravo, Darren Sammy, Ravi Rampaul, Fidel Edwards and Devendra Bishoo.
Note: Kemar Roach seems to be the bowler that would be left out if the team only facilitates two pacers. This act should not occur.
